Serving a notice period may feel quite normal, as there is less work, but being overlooked entirely after years of service? That’s quite unusual and that’s what sparked debate after one employee shared their experience on Reddit, leaving many users divided over workplace etiquette and managerial responsibility.
Five years, strong performance, but no goodbye
Posting on the r/OfficePolitics forum, the employee revealed that their manager did not mention their departure during the team’s stand-up meeting, even though it was their last day after five years with the company.
“I’ve been with this company for five years, and my performance has always been high, consistently exceeding 110% of my targets,” the user wrote. Despite this, there was no acknowledgment of their exit.
The employee added that their relationship with the manager had always been positive. When they resigned, the manager even offered a higher salary to retain them and admitted concern about a “domino effect,” as another team member had recently left.
That’s what made the silence more confusing. “Has anyone ever had their manager not announce their last day? I feel like this is very strange,” the post asked.
Some say it’s more common than people think
Several commenters shared similar experiences, suggesting that quiet departures happen more often than expected. One user recalled: “When I left my job, of ten years, my manager cancelled the last stand up I’d be there for because ‘there was nothing to discuss’.”
Another commenter working in healthcare noted that departures often go unannounced: “We either find out when the nurse says something, when their position gets posted, or when they stop showing up for work.”
Boss took it personally
Others described discovering colleagues had left only after emails bounced or their names disappeared from company directories. Another suggested the manager might be concerned about morale: “They took it personally and are only worried about replacing this person and how it will affect morale.”
Meanwhile, a few users contrasted the experience with more traditional workplace send-offs. “Each time a big farewell lunch or dinner and gifts,” one commenter said, describing past job exits.