Fraud Alert

Beth Trakimas
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

I’m a fraud.

Okay that’s dramatic. I’m not technically the definition of fraud since I have not been intentionally deceitful nor have I done anything criminal. However, I feel like a fraud based on my last post back in May and I’ve been feeling a strong urge to come clean.

Here’s the truth. While I did quit my job back in October 2017 and my technical last day was May 11, 2018 I’ve been working covertly part-time for the same company since then. At first it was because my backfill couldn’t start until my declared term date so the company asked me to stick around to help onboard them. Then it was because changes in the business created a situation where I was one of the few people inside the company (due to my delayed term) with knowledge to help with a leadership transition. Now, it’s because I asked to stick around to finish a project because what can I say — I don’t like to leave things unfinished. Through all of this I’m grateful to the company for treating me with dignity and respect and enabling a conversation about what’s good for both parties — the company and me.

I feel like a fraud because my big bang ‘adios’ Corporate America really was more akin to an artistic facade. Who cares you say? Well maybe you don’t, but I’ve been reflecting on why this feeling of falsehood has been nagging on me. I think I figured it out.

When I resigned nearly a year ago it was a deeply thought out decision with meticulously accounted for financial, professional and even personal tradeoffs. Many parts of my life have taught me you can control almost nothing, but I have learned proper planning prevents (avoidable) problems so at a minimum that’s what I was going for. I resigned because I wanted to invest energy into other interests, my family and my health. In summary I resigned because the opportunity cost of continuing to work full time wasn’t worth it at this point in my journey.

When I resigned I didn’t even think that instead of wholesale leaving I could have asked for an alternative path. Like say to work part-time? I did discuss with my husband what I would do if in fact the company came back and asked if I wanted to work part-time — which they didn’t do pro-actively at all. Yet it didn’t even occur to me to actually ask for that upfront. What is that? Did I not think it a viable option? Was I going for dramatic effect? Was I so depleted that it didn’t even seem like something I would consider? Truth is probably a mix of a small percentage of each. What strikes me though is how the structures of the working world are so deeply engrained that I, as an HR professional, didn’t even think to get creative and have the conversation proactively. That’s unfortunate and quite frankly I’m embarrassed.

If the economy and our communities are going to grow and innovate we’ve got to think deeply about the structural forces that make staying engaged in the paid workforce a seemingly bi-furcated decision (100% or not at all). There are amazing humans out there with lots to give that also have lots of other very important work they want to pursue. They should be empowered to adjust their balance as their lives allow and it’s up to the macro forces (policy makers, CEOs, HR leaders, etc.) to create systems that enable them. Now this opens a can of worms that I intend to investigate further — what policy changes could make this easier for organizations to pursue? Can you think of a case study where a company has sought to leverage a more diverse workforce profile? If so — let me know I want to learn about it!

As for me — I’m really leaving my current job in the next few weeks. As planned I will be focusing on other life priorities. This weaning period from Corporate America has helped me reflect on what I love about the career I’ve chosen, what I need right now and the fact that I actually do like working. After all I’m still that five year old who chose to go help my Grandma run payroll at my Grandfather’s engineering firm before we went to the beach.

#workforcetrends #gigeconomy #workforcepolicy

Beth Trakimas

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