Just Get Out!

6 minutes ago
7 min read

By Frank Weber

What follows is the original piece written four years ago. My original piece. Lately, I've been hearing whispers and I run into people now and then who ask me about the whole voluntary resignation from the office of Manager of Labor Relations situation. Time DOES NOT erase what was done and time certainly DOES NOT allow for fabrications and clouds cast on the ACTUAL events in a vain attempt to change them. So...here it is. This is WHY it all happened. This is WHY things went the way they did.

Take from this business/life lesson what you will...

After two long years of harassment, torment and anguish, I made the decision to resign my position as Manager of Labor Relations. I did so after having held that position based upon skill and ability alone – without being degreed – for just shy of twenty years.

I walked away from a full salary with full benefits, annual profit sharing and four weeks of paid vacation. But those perks could take me only so far while being forced into a world of depression complete with a total disregard for my physical disabilities.

Point is, the decision was not made lightly and not made without a great deal of thought and reflection. It was important that I left on my terms before something happened that was out of my control.

On March 2, 2020, I submitted a five-page letter of resignation to the President/Owner, CEO, CFO and the Personnel Director. The majority of my co-workers said good-bye to me, and a lot of us talked about the current state of affairs and the worries of all that remained in the company.

The President/Owner was out-of-country at the time, even so, there still was no word from either the CEO or the CFO. Not a single word on March 2. The CEO and CFO considered themselves the primary managers in this company, second only to the President/Owner himself, and made all decisions together. Nothing happened in this company without their approval. And A LOT happened that never should have been allowed.

They even went as far as accusing me of collusion with the union because I would not violate the labor agreement and support their unsubstantiated positions against the union. This was the final motivating factor in my decision to resign, and it was clearly defined in my resignation letter.

The next day, on March 3, 2020, around 10:00AM, the CEO came to my office and said, “I got your resignation, and I accept it.” He just stood there waiting for me to say something, believing that I wanted to negotiate for more money or whatever – he thought it was a bluff. I know this because he had approached a few people in the office asking them what they thought I was really up to, and they were not happy about getting caught in the crossfire. He trusted all the wrong people, but sadly, that was always the case with this group of “senior” managers.

I let him stand there for a minute and then I said, “I know this company’s culture and I knew that any resignation would be final and not up for negotiation. At my last job, when I gave notice to come here for a better job, I was told, “Just get out now. I don’t want your notice!”

The CEO got excited for a second and said, “So you don’t want to give notice then?”

I stood up from behind my desk and said, “I ABSOLUTELY DO WANT TO GIVE NOTICE. I AM NOT RETRACTING MY NOTICE, NOT ONE SECOND OF IT!”

He deflated a bit, said “Ok”, turned around and disappeared from the shop floor for the rest of the day.

Still no word from the CFO.

On March 4, 2020, at approximately 0630hrs, I submitted a 2^nd stage, written grievance answer for the CEO to review as he now required. It involved a problem salaried employee and her incessant efforts to direct the union workforce in overt violation of the labor agreement.

He replied – via e-mail only – that he already investigated this and the person in question was obviously innocent of all union allegations, and he believed her. I reiterated my written answer and included a more thorough explanation of the damage she was causing and why she had to be brought under control. I didn’t hear another word on the specific grievance itself.

Not another word from the CEO on anything.

Still no word from the CFO.

On March 5, 2020, at 1053hrs, the CEO of the company walked up to me as I prepared for the daily production meeting and said in a flustered huff, “You can just get out!”

He never looked me in the eye. He quickly turned his back to me and stormed off like a spoiled little kid in the midst of a tantrum.

Not another word from the CEO.

Still no word from the CFO.

Neither of them professional enough to shake my hand or even say goodbye during any of this.

“You can just get out!”

I said goodbye to all of my guys as I walked back through the shop to clean out my office. My guys actually helped me carry my stuff out to my truck…and my guys were all in the union making me the ‘bad guy’. Like me or not, even they were decent enough to say goodbye.

As I am writing this on the one-year anniversary of that last day, I never did hear another word from the CEO or any word from the CFO…the two ‘top’ executives that billed themselves as not only business pioneers and gurus, but as ‘fair and compassionate leaders’ to boot.

In those last weeks and days, neither quality was visible from either of them in anyone’s eyes in that company.

I made the right decision.

On March 6, 2020, I woke up full of life and promise for something new…for a new world without so much unnecessary suffering. I was up before daylight filing for unemployment.

And a couple days later when COVID crippled the UC system in Pennsylvania, I thought about sending the CEO/CFO a fruit basket in gratitude.

Had they “allowed” me to finish out my notice, I would have had one helluva time getting benefits, if at all. As it was, I got in ONE DAY under the wire…and I secured full benefits. The state determined that even though I voluntarily resigned, I had proven through my documentation to have “made every effort to resolve all disputes and the employer had not”.

Later that morning, I met the President/Owner of the company for a cup of coffee – he wanted to at least say good bye given the past twenty years I had in his company. It turned out to be a three-hour cup of coffee as we sat and talked about old times, current times and future times.

He was a little saddened there was nothing he could do in the situation, and I told him that I knew the company position on such matters – it goes back to his father, the man who hired me in the first place. I could see he was not at all happy with how the scenario played out, but such is life. I never held anything against him…even now.

And here I am writing this on the one-year anniversary of my last day at that company.

My mind is once again clear…as it was so many years ago, before the corporate grind had worn it down. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Labor Relations and I EXCEL at it. I just didn’t like all of the unnecessary fluff that was piled on top of it by those that ‘thought they knew better’ without ever having done it.

Hell, two high-ranking officials in the UAW gave me both references and letters of recommendation…for me, there is no greater accolade than to be respected by one’s adversaries.

The point of all of this is a certain degree of closure for me, but I realize this episode could also serve as a rich lesson for executives of all walks.

No string of letters listed after your name will ever deem you infallible or omniscient.

If you have not done it, you do not know it. You have to ‘know that you do not know’, no matter how many letters you paid to have situated at the end of your name.

Respect for your title and office is not a given and is not automatic simply by virtue of that title or your name. Respect is earned, never given. When I started at that company 23 years ago, I was a thirty-something new-hire managing career union men in their fifties and sixties. Beyond all that I had to overcome, I earned their respect – not their allegiance – their respect.

I didn’t do it by stomping my feet when someone disagreed with me or by citing my background. I did it through my actions.

Every executive must also recognize those that work for them, not instantly disregard them because they might not blindly agree. One of the things that made me so successful was my directive to all of the guys to tell me when they thought I was wrong, never bobble-head it!

I made it a point to recognize every opinion. I didn’t have to agree or follow or use every idea, but it is so important to recognize that, as an executive, you are not the only person with the answers. Yes, you have to make the final decision, but that should always be based upon all considerations, not just “because I’m the boss and I know best”.

But now, by far, the sweetest part of this Anniversary Day was this revelation…

I’m need to write a book about labor relations…my experiences, my stories and above all else, my simple theories on the endeavor. All have served me so well and garnered so many successes – for both myself and the union – that I am sure many others can benefit as well.

Besides, it was one helluva ride and it makes for a great story!

I was wondering ‘why’ I hadn’t thought of it until now, but I have to believe that I just wasn’t ready to write it until that very moment.

And I wrote over 18,000 words and completed it in twelve days.

So, take from all this what you will. This picture was taken that same day.