The Art of Graceful Exit: Reflections on Modern Corporate Farewells
Reading about someone’s last day at work after being made redundant brought back memories of similar experiences in the tech industry. The familiar scene played out - the awkward HR meetings, fake sympathetic faces, and that strange liminal space between being employed and not.
The tech industry, particularly here in Australia, has seen its fair share of redundancy waves recently. Major players have been “restructuring” (corporate speak for showing people the door), often with very little warning. The story shared online today feels particularly relevant - that final walk through the office, the perfunctory HR meeting, and yes, the traditional raid of the stationery cupboard.
It’s fascinating how universal these experiences are. The reactions described in the post - the stone-cold “NO” to HR’s questions, the casual stroll in on the last day, the strategic acquisition of office supplies - they’re all part of this strange corporate farewell ritual we’ve collectively developed.
Looking back at my own experiences in tech companies, I’ve sat on both sides of that table. The worst was during the early 2000s tech bubble burst, watching talented colleagues being walked out while carrying their personal belongings in archive boxes. The scene hasn’t changed much in twenty years, except now we might be carrying our belongings in reusable shopping bags instead.
The comments about taking stationery and office supplies struck a particular chord. It’s not about the monetary value - it’s a small act of rebellion against a system that often treats workers as disposable resources. That said, the story about someone taking 150 bottles of liquid paper might be pushing it a bit far!
What’s truly telling is how workplace loyalty has fundamentally shifted. The days of getting a gold watch after 40 years of service are long gone. Now, staying with one company for more than five years might raise eyebrows among recruiters. The game has changed, and workers have adapted accordingly.
Here in the tech sector, particularly around the Collins Street tech corridor, redundancies have become more frequent than seasonal coffee menu changes. The standard response seems to be developing a thick skin and treating each role as a stepping stone rather than a final destination.
The silver lining is that these experiences often lead to better opportunities. The tech market, while volatile, usually bounces back. Many colleagues who faced redundancy ended up in better positions, often with improved work-life balance and higher salaries. Sometimes getting pushed out of our comfort zone is exactly what we need.
Still, it’s worth remembering that behind every redundancy statistic is a real person dealing with real stress and uncertainty. While we can joke about pilfering Post-it notes and company-branded coffee mugs, the impact on people’s lives is significant.
Maybe it’s time for companies to rethink how they handle these transitions. The current process feels outdated and often unnecessarily cold. Until then, we’ll continue seeing these stories of small acts of defiance on people’s last days, because sometimes taking that fancy stapler is the only way to maintain dignity in an undignified situation.
For now, I’ll raise my batch brew to anyone going through this transition. Remember: your job title doesn’t define you, and sometimes the best opportunities come disguised as setbacks.