Exit Interview?

If the boss is paying hourly employees as 'independent contractors' he's scamming the IRS and will get caught sooner than later.

In my field most workers are salaried, but outside contract employees are typically hourly. Some may or may not be independent contractors. I have no stomach for the tax implications, so whenever I've been submitted for a contract position I wanted to be on W2.
 
I've never done an exit interview.
My place requires them.
A co-worker who has worked here 3 times over the last 15 years has been through 2 exit interviews says they are an absolute waste of time. There was a different HR Director for each, and in each case she pointed out company polices that are illegal, and they haven't changed.
 
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Exit interviews are required at my office.

I would decline to do one. No boss has ever really cared what people say in their exit interview, if it was negative. They all want to hear what a great job they did, blah blah blah.
 

I would DEF decline....
No good can come of this.
He has known you and worked closely with you for some time.
There can only be some very VERY, questionable reasons for a direct supervisor to try to do an 'exit interview'.
This kind of thing is not an obligation. You do not have to do this. You do not owe him.

It looks like you do not really want to to this.
That you do not want to feel like you have to censor negative concerns, or to lie.

I suspect that he is hoping to do this as a big CYA move, to try to use any (non-negative) comments that you make to negate any possible trouble or allegations. "Hey, there were no allegations or info in the exit interview(s)..."

If there is any possibility, at all, that a negative exit interview might possibly result in any actions against you... bad reference... filling out forms in a way that would disqualify you for unemployment... etc... then this could be a way that a direct supervisor would be guilty of trying to coerce an employee.

The whole purpose of an exit interview is for an unknown, objective, not-involved, person to keep and eye on the different operations.
It should never be done, or expected by, a direct supervisor, boss, owner...
The fact that this is a small company does not change that.

I have worked for smaller companies.
And, years ago, I have worked for a larger company where I actually conducted exit interviews.
 
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Just be very careful about burning bridges.

You can say what you want to family and friends. But you may need a good word from him someday.

I've seen this happen too many times to others in the past, which is why I recommended just declining the request. Sometimes life has a way of making you wish you'd taken the high road.
 
I've seen this happen too many times to others in the past, which is why I recommended just declining the request. Sometimes life has a way of making you wish you'd taken the high road.

It wasn't an exit interview per se, but I remember one guy quitting because he didn't like a whole bunch of things. Before he left, he fired off a rambling email to everyone in the office telling why he was leaving and specifically criticizing the direction and competence of the management. Within a year I was told he was still looking for employment and that he had even asked if he might be able to come back.
 
It wasn't an exit interview per se, but I remember one guy quitting because he didn't like a whole bunch of things. Before he left, he fired off a rambling email to everyone in the office telling why he was leaving and specifically criticizing the direction and competence of the management. Within a year I was told he was still looking for employment and that he had even asked if he might be able to come back.

Those burnt bridges are rather shaky to cross.
 
I don't think I could ever go back and work for him. I'd rather work in retail to be honest. He's done some shady stuff paying employees (and admitted he's paying us wrong), done some interesting things, and has made questionable comments such as saying he doesn't care if I measure something in my bra.

I would just worry about him putting in a bad word if he was called as my previous employer. That's why I'm so iffy on the situation.
 
I don't think I could ever go back and work for him. I'd rather work in retail to be honest. He's done some shady stuff paying employees (and admitted he's paying us wrong), done some interesting things, and has made questionable comments such as saying he doesn't care if I measure something in my bra.

I would just worry about him putting in a bad word if he was called as my previous employer. That's why I'm so iffy on the situation.

Err on the side of caution.
 
I would be brief. Discuss you really didn't want to be an independent contractor, and found a great job as a regular employee. It is a better situation for you. Done.
I would not say anything negative.
 
In my opinion, exit interviews are just one of those "things." Feedback from people who have accepted new jobs and moved on can hardly be considered unbiased. If you are leaving for a better opportunity, move on. I think it is fine to talk in general terms about things that need improvement or things that were good, but when you are leaving is not the time to get into a "he said, she said" airing of your grievances. Smile, say a few words and don't look back.
 
Well, the company is basically my boss who owns it, myself, and then a bunch of guys who do the actual construction work. I don't know of anyway out of doing it. I honestly don't wanna waste much time of this, because he's honestly treated everyone that works for him like dirt. I might just mention the pay thing and that is about all. Whats the worst he can do? Fire me a day or two early?

He started having me pull deck permits, and I did it for 3 months and finally told him I needed more help with him, and that they gave me anxiety (They involve a TON of driving around to random places, and are super complicated). He basically said I would never be successful in anything, let alone be able to have a family. This is what made me want to find a new job ASAP. I wasn't expecting not to do any permits, but get some help with them at least. Do I mention this?
I do have a new job lined up.

Wait, you told your boss you had anxiety doing tasks expected for the job? I can't imagine doing that. I would hold your tongue about anything personal about your compensation, work load or the like. Give some generic constructive criticism or suggestions but once you make it personal your credibility is gone.

You also don't want to burn bridges. It's amazing how small a world it is when you get a bad rep. I let a company years ago and went back 6 years later. I then ended up staying another 20 years. I'm now with a company that's very difficult to get into and its because a former coworker vouched for me.
 
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Yeah, he told me he wants input on how he can improve on running his business, but I really don't think I should be giving that. I'll mention the pay thing and keep it at that. He know's I'm leaving for a better paying job.
IF you're planning on doing it anyway. Why not use the opportunity to ask him a few questions about YOUR performance while working there. Don't let him be the only one that benefits from the interview. Of course from the little bit of info. you have given about him, I suspect he will only say negative things about you in an attempt to discourage you and make you feel like your making a mistake by leaving.
 
Wait, you told your boss you had anxiety doing tasks expected for the job? I can't imagine doing that. I would hold your tongue about anything personal about your compensation, work load or the like. Give some generic constructive criticism or suggestions but once you make it personal your credibility is gone.

When I was hired, this was not expected. I was never told I was going to have be driving to random cities a few times a week for hours on end in my personal car. It was awful for me because I couldn't afford to get into an accident, and I'm not a fan of driving. I did it for 2 or 3 months before I finally had to tell him it was making me super uncomfortable plus I had to have a ton of work done on my car after starting to do all the driving.
He also knew I had zero experience in construction blue print drawings and language and never helped one bit to show me how to do stuff. So I think I had every right to make a comment to him.
 
If the boss is paying hourly employees as 'independent contractors' he's scamming the IRS and will get caught sooner than later.

You owe him nothing; decline the exit interview unless it's something you want to do.

I agree. I think I would decline this "opportunity" as well.

I don't think I could ever go back and work for him. I'd rather work in retail to be honest. He's done some shady stuff paying employees (and admitted he's paying us wrong), done some interesting things, and has made questionable comments such as saying he doesn't care if I measure something in my bra.

I would just worry about him putting in a bad word if he was called as my previous employer. That's why I'm so iffy on the situation.

It is a touchy one, and one I would avoid at all costs. If you do decide to do this interview, I woudl be as generic as possible. I would not use the interview as a means to provide constructive feedback. This guy does not want that, and if he uses questionable comments on the jo, imagine what he says off. No, anything you say cans and probably will be used against you.

When I was hired, this was not expected. I was never told I was going to have be driving to random cities a few times a week for hours on end in my personal car. It was awful for me because I couldn't afford to get into an accident, and I'm not a fan of driving. I did it for 2 or 3 months before I finally had to tell him it was making me super uncomfortable plus I had to have a ton of work done on my car after starting to do all the driving.
He also knew I had zero experience in construction blue print drawings and language and never helped one bit to show me how to do stuff. So I think I had every right to make a comment to him.

Perhaps you had the right, but just because you can does not mean that you should. There are ways to effectively make a point without drawing attention to your deficits. That you do not see that you may have reduced your value at work by that comment makes me question if you are able to navigate a exit interview.

Callie- here is the problem. You have a job now. But you have not started there, you have no history there, and no track record. Employers can and do rescind their offers and tend to have language in their agreements that protect them. I worked for a company and saw this happen on more than one occasion. We sent representatives to job fairs in the area, and a few times our folks recognized someone who had accepted a position with us, had not yet started their employment. The observed behavior in that environment was not acceptable and my company recinded the offer. My concern fo you is that if you inadvertantly say something that offends your present employer, that information may make it back to your new employer. Even if you still have the job you may be observed differently than if you came in with a clean slate.
 
That is why I want to avoid the exit interview, because he will keep pushing for feedback on how he can improve.
 
That is why I want to avoid the exit interview, because he will keep pushing for feedback on how he can improve.

I woud decline, but if you feel you cannot gracefully leave without the inteview, do not offer feedback. If he asks you to detail why you are leaving, tell him that you are pursuing an opportunity for growth. Use any cliche you need to in order to say nothing. Do not give any constructive feedback.
 



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