KEEPING SUZANNE CHALMERS

INTRODUCTION

Suzanne Chalmers, one of the API’s top talents software engineers, asked Thomas Chan, the vice-president of software engineering at Advanced Photonics, Inc. (API), for a private meeting.

Thomas Chan had been through this before when valued employees asked for private meetings which ended by announcing that they wanted to quit. Reasons for leaving the company were anything like the long hours, stressful deadline, need to decompress or get to spend time with their kids…etc.

Thomas Chan assumes that the real reason for the staff leaving was having too much money too fast which gave employees financial independence and less motivation.

During the meeting, after Suzanne Chalmers announced that she decided to leave the company, Thomas Chan tried to persuade Suzanne Chalmers to remain with API by offering her one of the following: 1-Giving her two or three months unpaid leaves with full paid benefits; so that she will have time to recharge batteries, 2- Workplace improvements – getting the latest computer technology to do her work or larger workspace with better view of the park, 3- 25 per cent pay increase and more share options,

Thomas Chan also recognized Suzanne Chalmers’ great work by telling her that she was one of API’s most valuable employees and the company would suffer if she left the firm. Suzanne Chalmers responded by saying that she did not have any problems with her workplace and that she has an excellent co-worker. At the end of the meeting, Suzanne Chalmers promised Thomas Chan that she would consider the offer of higher pay and the increased of share options.

Two days later, Thomas Chan received Suzanne Chalmers has written resignation from API. Five months later, Thomas Chan heard that she had joined a start-up software firm in the area after a few months of travelling with her husband.

SYMPTOMS