The Ambivalence of Departing Employees: Reactions of Involuntary and Voluntary Exiters

Abstract

The research reported in this article uses a clinical methodology to explore the complex process of organizational exits from the perspective of both voluntary and involuntary exiters. In particular, it focuses on the ambivalence manifested by all exiters in regard to three emotional themes that shaped the exit experience: termination, separation, and change. The article also reflects on the way in which the researcher's group membership influenced the choice of a research topic and the research itself. Implications for research and practice are discussed