Why Does Notice Served = Relationship Severed?

Those of you who follow my posts will know that I am a big defender of the recruitment industry, and feel that it is often castigated unfairly. However I am also honest in my criticism of it. 

One thing I believe recruitment businesses – and specifically the leaders within those businesses – get wrong, is the way human beings are treated upon handing in their notice.

Consultants who may have been with an agency for years, who have always been honest, trustworthy and hard-working, are suddenly treated like criminals, escorted to their desks and watched over whilst they clear their belongings, and receive threatening letters warning of the consequences of breaching their restrictive covenants.

I understand that as sales based business, leaders need to protect their assets, but surely there are better ways to go about it?

It’s frightening to witness the wholesale change in management’s attitude towards employees as soon as they hand their notice in. All of that rapport and trust disappears and a valued member of staff suddenly becomes a liability.

Having been on the receiving end of such treatment I can hand-on-heart say that it is really unsettling, and makes you doubt the authenticity of the relationship you have had with them, and indeed of the authenticity of the individual as a whole.

Behaviours breed behaviours, and in an industry which receives such negative press in terms of how it operates, I passionately believe we need to address the way in which we treat our people and ensure that we get the balance right between protecting our assets and ensuring we don’t forget our morals. 

Don’t treat people like a commodity that is no longer worth anything to you just because they are leaving. 

The most successful, well respected managers I have worked for all without exception handled my exit from their business in a professional and ethical way. 

If you are looking for a new role in recruitment, my advice would be to seek out ex-employees and ask them how they were treated upon their departure. I guarantee that will tell you all you need to know as to whether they are a business you would want to work for or not.