# Should I respond to this letter from my former employer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309 "2007-05-16T13:05:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/41 "2007-05-16T22:05:57Z")
Sign nothing. Have a friend with a home/small business write them for a job reference. If they lie/badmouth you, sue their stupid Yuppie fannies for many simeoleons. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/42 "2007-05-16T22:23:50Z")
The HR department is clearly being run by a bunch of hamsters. They have no leverage. And stop feeling guilty about leaving after 2 days. Even if it was a fabulous company to work for, a better offer came in and you took it. That’s the way the ball bounces in the big, bad world of business. And you’ve provided them with yet another reason why they should treat their employees better. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/43 "2007-05-16T22:49:07Z")
I think it best to simply ignore the letter. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/44 "2007-05-16T23:05:29Z")
I also work in Kennewick so I’m being tortured with curiosity as to what company this is. 😃 I would not sign that form. I also wouldn’t feel guilty about leaving that job for the better prospect. Hope your other job is going great! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/45 "2007-05-16T23:09:52Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] I hate to argue with you, but this has not been my experience. [/QUOTE] Clearly our experiences are at variance, but I’d rather not hijack the thread. Regardless of the specific terms used on the forms, it’s obvious that signing them would be an extraordinarily bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/46 "2007-05-16T23:58:10Z")
[QUOTE=Gulo gulo] I also work in Kennewick so I’m being tortured with curiosity as to what company this is. 😃 I would not sign that form. I also wouldn’t feel guilty about leaving that job for the better prospect. Hope your other job is going great! [/QUOTE] Crap, I didn’t even notice the OP was local! Now I’m curious too. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/47 "2007-05-16T23:58:25Z")
I reckon you should fold like an umbrella and sign all the forms with minimal fuss. That’s what I’d do, and just look at where that attitude got me (I’m a trillionaire, btw). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/48 "2007-05-17T00:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mbossa] I reckon you should fold like an umbrella and sign all the forms with minimal fuss. That’s what I’d do, and just look at where that attitude got me (I’m a trillionaire, btw). [/QUOTE] Where did you get all that Monoploy money anyway, **Mbossa**? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/49 "2007-05-17T00:22:58Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] The HR department is clearly being run by a bunch of hamsters. They have no leverage. [/QUOTE] Well, of course not, with those tiny little arms. God, point out _all_ their weaknesses, why don’t you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/50 "2007-05-17T00:50:18Z")
You should see if you can make a good paper airplane out of the forms. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/51 "2007-05-17T02:43:35Z")
It sounds like standard bullshit some HR person is required to send. They likely don’t care, and neither should you. Trash it and enjoy your new job. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/52 "2007-05-17T05:02:00Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] I agree with everyone who has suggested you not bother sending back anything, but I am curious about one thing. Did they provide you with any training whatsoever? [/QUOTE] Nope. I walked in and said I was interested. They gave me a application to fill out and told me to come back in for an audition the next day. I came in. The audition lasted 90 seconds. They sent me upstairs to fill out forms. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/53 "2007-05-17T07:05:37Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] I wouldn’t bother signing or returning anything. [/QUOTE] Thirded or fourthded. Two days? They’ve got a lot of nerve. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/54 "2007-05-17T16:36:46Z")
Honestly, I think you’d better sign the document and send it back to them. Certainly #1 & #2, but especially #3. The circumstances could be dire if you chose to ignore this. Sincerely, Catbert ---
**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309/55 "2007-05-18T00:42:50Z")
Don’t sign anything. Why should you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-respond-to-this-letter-from-my-former-employer/404309.md?page=2)