Got a new job. Kinda want to call something out.

So I have worked at a company for nine years, almost ten. I have stumbled into a new higher paying job under some kinda crazy circumstances. My entire team of four is leaving all at once for this other company to build an entirely new already funded line of services.

But I'm very high anxiety right now during the transition. I know some people are scared because our usually very important department is jumping ship all at once. The owners are also probably going to throw a "party" for us in spite of that as their way to change the narrative. One particular owner really grinds my gears because he's just so clueless and shouldn't ever have been put in any position of authority.

Specifically, if they do do this party thing, I kinda want to tell a story about him that really kinda foreshadows our whole team leaving. A few years ago he took my boss aside and told him he wanted to fire someone in my department to "shake things up." Essentially the only kind of leadership he understands is people being afraid for their jobs. I really want to leave on that note. "He wanted to fire one of us to make the rest of us afraid of losing our jobs, so instead we all left together and found a new place to work."

Sounds like a good plot for a movie.

Might as well go out with a bang. Start a food fight.

First off, congrats on the new gig, Ashlar.

As for what to do, I see the wisdom of not burning bridges 90% of the time. One thing you have to be really careful about is if the economy turns (a very real possibility considering how hollow and bubbly this recovery has been). I personally know of several instances where friends and family jumped to a more promising job only for a recession to drive the company under within a couple years; and every time, they wound up going back to their old company or relying on references.

Now that said, I totally sympathize with the urge to tell one of your bosses off. As I like to say sometimes:

Hey, burning bridges is how Sam Houston won the Battle of San Jacinto

Even then though, you'd have to make sure that your entire group is OK with it, that you won't need to rely on your old employer in anyway going forward, or even that hearsay going around your industry would be a problem for you.

My gut says fight the urge to make a spectacle, and let your entire group moving on speak for itself. One other thing would be that if you do say anything, try to do the office politics right. Don't be fully direct about it, and criticize issues that you know at least some of your bosses secretly sympathize with you on.

You said you're high on anxiety, which means you're probably angrier than normally, which means it's not wise to speak out now. Think about it later when you're over this transition phase.

I agree with what muaddib said about burning bridges. At the same time, I understand the urge to expose bad or unethical behavior, and I condone it.

If this is your intent, why not email (or otherwise relay) this information to the people you want to be informed? Whether or not you want to inform the clueless owner that you've exposed him is up to you.

This way you can choose your words carefully to avoid sounding vindictive, or like a gossip. Also, like under ice said, transitioning to your new job will give you time to cool down a bit. Things disclosed out of bitterness or anger have less nobility than things disclosed out of a sense of duty, and are more believable.

If it's drama you're after, do it at the party. With enough tact, you can come off sounding reasonable and not necessarily burn any bridges.

Otherwise, dress all in black and spraypaint it on the front of the building at 3 AM one day. Then notify a local paper.

I think you have to weigh the costs and benefits. For example, you get an hour or two of enjoyment about embarrassing your boss but you risk him refusing to ever give you a referral if you need another job for some reason or gossiping about you to other managers and undermining your reputation.

If you were offended about your boss's actions and genuinely want to make your former workplace a better environment for people coming after you, then you should talk to HR/your boss's boss at the old company about it instead of calling him out on it publicly at a party. That's just going to make you look immature and wanting to take a pot shot before leaving.

I suggest you leave that fool to his own demise. While revenge can certainly
taste sweet at times, it's vastly overshadowed by the solemn feeling of being
being above their level. Why would you waste so much effort just to slightly
disturb a single night of a fool's life? Do not under any circumstance join
their lousy dance of pitifulness.

^ Hey EmpathySucks, sup?

I just realized you've been posting semi-regularly this year after leaving the forum for a while... so welcome back.

So hey, update.

Left the job.

On the day before we left they threw us a "party". I tried to avoid it. Problematic owner guy followed me out of the building to give me a shirt. Awkwardness ensued.

On week 3 at new job. I'm starting to realize I'm the engine. At the old job this was a bit more hidden. Things move when I'm 100% onboard. Lots of people throw things up there, I try to grok it, we talk about it, but it only becomes dogma once I've grok'd it and given feedback. Honestly this feels great so-far at the new company. The current super-small team is giving me way more time and respecting my reactions. So so-far so-good.