# any good way to say goodbye to someone you hate, when they're leaving a job? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741 "2012-09-14T23:52:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/41 "2012-09-17T09:16:01Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > To hell with all the reasonable responses. > > Paul Sanchez [The Hate Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LCKSL7D_Hg) Or Graham Coxon’s _Song for the Sick_ > [@Excerpt from Song for the Sick](#): > > _Did you ever think > You’d get away with it > Your attitude just stinks > You cowardly little shit > Consider this a spell > And watch where you tread > And I’ll see you in hell > I’ll be laughing cause you’re dead_ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/42 "2012-09-17T10:08:44Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Yeah, it’s best to just say something like “Best of luck to you” and leave it like that. This. You may be _thinking_, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” but no need to put it, or any related sentiment, into spoken words. He’s leaving; any negative statements you add won’t gain you a thing. So leave well enough alone. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/43 "2012-09-17T14:17:37Z")
I guess, as mentioned, it depends on why you hate the person. If it’s just office stuff, remember that they will be out of your life and there’s no reason to hate them anymore. I would be an adult and just say “Hey, good luck on the new gig. I mean that.” The hard part is to actually mean it. Don’t forget that being nice can also be a pretty cool weapon. 😉 Now, if the person is a truly disgusting human being who beats his wife, kicks puppies, or puts ketchup on hot dogs, then I would do nothing. Why go there? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/44 "2012-09-17T15:58:38Z")
When people I despise leave the job, I just ignore them. If they insist on saying goodbye, I shake their hand and say goodbye. If they don’t come around to me, I don’t make an effort to come to them. There’s no need to be rude and you must at all times be civil. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/45 "2012-09-17T16:27:58Z")
It would be unprofessional to make more of it than good bye or good luck. As people have said you could end up working for/with this person again, plus your co-workers and bosses will be watching and noting. You’re better off saying nothing if you think you won’t be able to refrain from making a snarky comment. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/46 "2012-09-17T16:59:19Z")
“Remember that lunch you packed that tasted somehow off? Heheheh” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/47 "2012-09-17T17:56:44Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Now is no time to reference or acknowledge the difficulties between you, leave that aside. > > ‘Just want you to know, we really appreciate the full notice and great job you did with training X. I sincerely wish you nothing but good fortune in future!’ > > Shake their hand and walk away. You’ll feel awesome for taking the high road and resolving a difficult relationship. They will feel great because you’ve acknowledge something that reflects their professionalism, and because you’ve helped to resolve a difficult relationship before the opportunity, to do so, is gone forever. > > Win Win! I think this is the best advice. I like the part about acknowledging what a good job they did with the transition. You don’t need to like someone to say they did a good job when they did a good job. Or, you can try: “Hope you’ve got the whole ‘would you like fries with that’ routine down, because you’re gonna need it”! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/48 "2012-09-17T19:50:47Z")
I do not recommend the linked approach, but when I saw it, I thought of this thread. [Office Farewell Email](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/best-office-farewell-email-ever_n_1889690.html) ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/49 "2012-09-17T20:15:57Z")
You could always organize the going-away party, and be [waaaaay too enthusiastic](http://www.theonion.com/articles/boss-goingaway-party-a-little-too-jubilant,1737/) about it. I like the part about hiring a band. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/50 "2012-09-18T11:04:52Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > I do not recommend the linked approach, but when I saw it, I thought of this thread. > > [Office Farewell Email](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/best-office-farewell-email-ever_n_1889690.html) Fantastic. I can just see each person trying to decide who was who on the list.😃 ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/51 "2012-09-19T14:24:15Z")
If the person is going around saying goodbye, I suspect they may avoid you during the process. If they do come to you, just say “Good luck.” Why should it be more? You aren’t expected to deliver a State of the Union address. The guy is leaving. You are staying. Why say more than that, even for a departing friend??? BTW, update us, please. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/52 "2012-09-19T15:53:29Z")
Just wave at them and say “goodbye” and be done with it, if they expect you to say anything. Don’t waste your breath saying “good luck on your new job” or “I know we hated it each other”. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/53 "2012-09-19T18:10:19Z")
You may well encounter this person again, if it’s a small field. You might even end up working under them. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/54 "2012-09-20T09:15:24Z")
[Arnold Rimmer] Look, I’m not much good at big speeches, and I know I haven’t always been an easy guy to get on with, and I know, that given the choice, I wouldn’t have chosen you as friends, but I just want to say, that over the years, I have come to regard you as people I met. [/Arnold Rimmer] ---
**Author:** ![kinetike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@kinetike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinetike)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/55 "2014-10-06T06:22:36Z")
Just say, good luck out there. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/56 "2014-10-06T07:16:41Z")
We’re all counting on you. ETA: Seriously, WTF? ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/57 "2014-10-06T08:01:32Z")
You’re lucky enough to have a disliked coworker leave? Any coworkers that I don’t like have a way of sticking around until the bitter end. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/58 "2014-10-06T08:07:50Z")
Seems like the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism by saying something at least blandly positive (such as ‘all the best for the future’). Whilst it might be fun to imagine tearing the disliked person to shreds, that will only reflect badly on you, in this specific context. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/59 "2014-10-06T08:27:31Z")
Might be worth pointing out that this is a two-year old thread so I suspect the OP no longer requires advice. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-way-to-say-goodbye-to-someone-you-hate-when-theyre-leaving-a-job/634741/60 "2014-10-06T09:02:27Z")
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