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Giving two weeks notice - a sob story

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Giving two weeks notice - a sob story

Old 11-28-2007, 10:50 PM
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Default Giving two weeks notice - a sob story

I quit. That is, I'm quitting my current job and moving on. Briefly, I've worked for the company almost 3 years, from flight instructor to charter pilot. I've always tried to be a team player, covering my fellow pilot's shifts when I could, working weekends (gamedays), and helping share the burden of holiday days even if the holiday fell on a day that wasn't "mine"...

The last 8-9 months have been like this: Was ready to leave for a new job when I was offered a part 135 position with my home company. Another (internal) pilot was offered a similar position on the same day. We both accepted and went to school at the same time. At that time, I was working at another aspect of the company, doing some heavy part 91 flying. When I accepted, I said that I wanted to be out of that position asap, and was told that although I would likely start slow, say 5 trips in a 2 week pay period, I would get worked up to full time as soon as possible. The other pilot who accepted the charter position said the same thing. I was hired to the company some months before him. As the summer played out, that pilot was removed completely from the runs I was doing, and I was flying anywhere from 100-140+ hours a month, with little to no relief in terms of being able to get a day covered due to illness or personal reasons. I tried to get other folks trained for my position, but I didn't understand why management wouldn't approve a replacement for me. Meanwhile, my classmate was getting charter trips left and right. I tried to be patient, and still held no plans of moving on, just of waiting for my (any day now) time to come.

Over the last eight months, I've accrued just under 40 hours of flying for the 135 side of the company, at least a quarter of that during a week that the other pilot was on vacation. On average, I would get called once per 2-3 weeks.

Finally, I just accepted that I was just going to be a backup to the backup, fly my regular part 91 flights, and well, at least I'll be making some pretty good money doing that. Recently though, a close relative of the boss came in to town, and he's a pilot too. I was told that he'd be joining the ranks of us part 91 flyers. I was thrilled to be able to maybe take an extra day off, or get a shift covered if needed. I planned on keeping most of my flying, but was willing to give up a day or two, so the newcomer would have work. I understood why I wasn't allowed to train my replacement, since the plan for the new guy to come fly had been in the works for a few months, although I didn't know about it untill shortly before he arrived. Suddenly though, the schedule that the part 91 pilots had always worked up amongst ourselves developed "problems". My boss then took over the scheduling of the part 91 flights. I was removed from all but 2 flights per pay period (1 per week). The new guy got my flying. I protested a bit, saying that I need a certain amount of flying to meet the bills, and was told that :


1. It would be unfair to the other 91 pilots if I got called to a part 135 trip and they had to fly suddenly (which is how things have always been handled- there were previous pilots who moved to the part 135 side of things, and I would end up on call for part 91, if they were on call for part 135)

and

2. Surely I would get the flying I needed for rent from the part 135 side of things.

Well, my boss telling me these things is not the guy who schedules the 135 pilots. Speaking to the 135 scheduler, I was told "I just won't need you that much for a while." A fine can of worms. So I've been just about unemployed for 3 weeks. I used some of that time to interview elsewhere. I was offered a position, and I accepted, just two days ago. Today, I had my cell phone off for two hours while enjoying some quality time at home- during that time, I missed two calls from the 135 scheduler. Now, although Wednesday is typically a day off for me, shortly after missing those calls, I got a call from the boss, saying to call him back. Called back, and was told to meet with him as soon as possible to discuss my not answering the phone and "how we are going to work these things in the future". He was definitely upset. We're meeting Friday. I feel that given it was a standard day off for me, I was only out of touch for two hours, and the fact that I rarely get called makes me being out of touch briefly forgivable.

Honestly, over the last 8 or so months or so I feel as though I've been pretty well used. I've tried my darnedest to be a team player, but it hasn't worked out, and so I'm on my way out. I feel as though I was offered the 135 job just to keep someone on the 91 flights untill the new guy came, and I could be a backup to the backup on the 135 stuff. My class date for the new job is less than two weeks away. I'd like to tender my resignation on the day that I meet with my boss to discuss my not answering the phone. Am I horrible for doing that? I've never *not* given proper notice at any job, and I've always been told that I'd be missed.

Dear Abby, what do you think?

-A-
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Old 11-29-2007, 01:14 AM
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It doesn't sound to me like you owe them anything at this point. You have a new job to go to.

Quit in what ever manner suits you, but I'd try to "take the high road" so you can move on with a clear consciense and so they can't say that you weren't a class act. That doesn't mean you need to give 2 weeks notice or anything, just be humble upon your departure and don't dwell on how you felt you were mis-treated. They won't care anyway - they'll just be P.O.'ed that you're leaving, but that's no longer your concern.

Last edited by aero550; 11-29-2007 at 01:19 AM.
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Old 11-29-2007, 02:36 AM
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Sometimes things simply do not work for a person in a particular organization at a particular time. It can happen to anyone. The thing to do and the hard part, is to not blame anyone including yourself that it didn't work and to just get out. Try to do it amicably. Move on and don't look back. A large part of how all organizations work is simply luck and happenstance including how well people fit. You will find another job that works much better... and don't call me Abby.
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Old 11-29-2007, 04:50 AM
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You've put your time in, etc....if they get their panties in a wad, then it wasn't really right for everyone in the first place. Obviously you've been there long enough, put in your time, so you have every right to. You already have the new job, so whatever they say can't really affect things now anyways. Good luck on the new job, and a 2 weeks is perfectly acceptable.
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Old 11-29-2007, 05:09 AM
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Sounds like where I work. The kids get to pick and choose their flights and bump more senior guys off of trips. That way they can have a full schedule and be home every night with no weekends or holidays.
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Old 11-29-2007, 06:13 AM
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Turn in your resignation on the day you meet with the boss. Hopefully, it will be two weeks prior to starting your new life.

Be humble and calm when meeting with your soon to be ex employer. Be sorry for missing the urgent calls from the 135 coordinator. If you were "on call", you should have answered the phone or called back within 15 minutes maximum.

You "resigned" from this job a few months ago but now will be making it official.

Have fun at the new job. The change will be refreshing.
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Old 11-29-2007, 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Douglas H View Post
Turn in your resignation on the day you meet with the boss. Hopefully, it will be two weeks prior to starting your new life.

Be humble and calm when meeting with your soon to be ex employer. Be sorry for missing the urgent calls from the 135 coordinator. If you were "on call", you should have answered the phone or called back within 15 minutes maximum.

You "resigned" from this job a few months ago but now will be making it official.

Have fun at the new job. The change will be refreshing.
If you suspect that your current employer might be planning on firing you at the meeting, you should go in TODAY and hand in a written resignation. You do not want a termination on your record if you can avoid it.

Don't bust an attitude, be very respectful, but you want to beat the employer to the punch. If he fires you or asks you to resign FIRST, that would be considered resignation in lieu of termination...any future employer would count that as being fired.
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Old 11-29-2007, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
If you suspect that your current employer might be planning on firing you at the meeting, you should go in TODAY and hand in a written resignation. You do not want a termination on your record if you can avoid it.

Don't bust an attitude, be very respectful, but you want to beat the employer to the punch. If he fires you or asks you to resign FIRST, that would be considered resignation in lieu of termination...any future employer would count that as being fired.
In my experience, companies only know what you tell them. Due to privacy laws and liability, background checks can really do no more than verify dates of employment. I've called previous companies that I have worked for and spoken to HR people I did not know. I made up a name and company and told them I was verifying employment on my real name. When I tried to ask anything more than dates of employment, each one stated that that was all they could tell me. They could not even say if I was able to be re-hired. I guess the laws for each state and policy for each company vary. Not that I have any negative employment history, but I have worked for bosses that were more than shady and mad I left for better employment.

Unless it is on an PRIA record that you were terminated for failing training or failing a drug test, I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if it was a part 91 operation.
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Old 11-29-2007, 03:23 PM
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Now you know why nearly every aviation company of any size is a union shop. Seniority controls your life in ways both good and bad, but at least you know that you will be treated the same as everyone else on the seniority list. Training opportunities (upgrades) and better schedules come along when it is your turn- not when someone in a suit likes you better. Hope your next organization is more professional.
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Old 11-29-2007, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by citationdrvrmob View Post
In my experience, companies only know what you tell them. Due to privacy laws and liability, background checks can really do no more than verify dates of employment. I've called previous companies that I have worked for and spoken to HR people I did not know. I made up a name and company and told them I was verifying employment on my real name. When I tried to ask anything more than dates of employment, each one stated that that was all they could tell me. They could not even say if I was able to be re-hired. I guess the laws for each state and policy for each company vary. Not that I have any negative employment history, but I have worked for bosses that were more than shady and mad I left for better employment.

Unless it is on an PRIA record that you were terminated for failing training or failing a drug test, I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if it was a part 91 operation.
That is probably correct for professional HR staffers. For companies which are not large enough to have HR people on the payroll, a background check caller may easily wind up talking to the boss. It's true that he could be liable for what he says, but if he decides that he's talking to a genuine potential employer, and he really has it out for you he might just decide that it's worth the risk to give you one last kick in the butt.

Even if the boss is a despicable individual, try to leave in manner that doesn't let him know how you really feel. Leave by all means, but don't screw yourself in the process.

Also the PRIA does in fact require the release of info regarding disciplinary action, which obviously includes terminations. Only air carriers have to obtain PRIA data for new-hires, but ALL aviation employers have to provide the data...91, 135, 121 including non-DoD government agencies.
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