The title of this piece refers to the sixth episode of the fifth season of the Netflix animated series: Bojack Horseman, entitled "Free Churro" where the main character of the series is making an apologia for the funeral of his mother.

The episode was rated 9.8 out of 10 by viewers and critics alike, and BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett) finds it difficult to talk about his now-deceased mother, considering the abuse he suffered in his childhood, and veers into dark humor, the anecdotes from television and the story of a cashier who gave him a free churro.

For me, this episode stands out as one of the most emotionally charged moments in the series. It brings forth several profound reflections, highlighting the idea that even during the most paralyzing moments in our lives, existence continues beyond our personal timeline. In our deepest moments of sorrow or confusion, it is possible to encounter unexpected acts of kindness—like stumbling upon someone who selflessly offers you a free churro."

During the pandemic came the wave of the so-called "Great Resignation" that is explained as a social phenomenon through which a pattern of behavior began to be detected in employees of all industries and different professions, and which resulted in the act to resign en masse from their places of employment.

I've extensively read about individuals who have made the decision to leave their jobs, and in recent years, I've personally encountered various situations of bidding farewell to colleagues. It's been an enlightening experience to realize that while we may part ways within the physical confines of the office, the consolation lies in the fact that our friendship extends far beyond that spatial boundary.

Many times I have even questioned myself if I am doing the wrong thing by staying in an office that more than half of my friends have abandoned.

But for every personal concern there are countless articles out there like "Don't Quit Your Job Before Asking Yourself These Questions" by Priscilla Clamanque that can help answer your questions.

A couple of months ago, one of my friends from work made the decision to quit. It was a situation that we have seen coming for a while, because in his project he was constantly working against the clock and the priorities were not being defined due to the manager's lack of understanding about the effort between developers and customer expectations.

Among other causes.

As I mention in my article and workshop: 10 dimensions to navigate through work burnout promoting a cultural transformation. Managers can play an essential role in situations to prevent "burnout" and employees can break free from that self-imposed "cage" that limits their growth. It is about nurturing and expanding skills, not accumulating tasks, and providing all kinds of tools so that conditions never lead to a state of exhaustion.

But quitting a job can be easy for some people and a huge emotional burden for others.

Like the BoJack Horseman episode "Free Churro"

And referring to a very particular line from the episode, I take it and transform it into:

"My friend quit, all I have is this company's thermo"

In another episode, from a different universe than BoJack Horseman, of the Harvard Business Review podcast "Women at Work" season 7, episode 3, titled "Dealing with feelings when an employee quits" Nicole Smith, Editorial Audience Director, mentions the following:

I heard a phrase, a couple of years ago, that really stuck with me: You can't put a changed person back into an unchanged environment. So if I am responsible for changing that person, for developing them, for making them grow, I must also be mature enough and have a broad mindedness to recognize that that person has now changed, and that means that the environment may not be suitable for them. And that eases me when I think about the person who comes and says, it's time to move on.

My friend changed because of what he experienced in his project, because his manager was never able to clarify expectations with the client, and his transformation was so great that he became a piece that no longer fit in with the situation he was living in and this led him to find another puzzle to be part of.

I don't quite quit, I only manage my energies into opportunities that are profitable for me.

Ultimately, while each departure of my friends has brought me sadness, I find solace in the profound human connections that workspaces can occasionally provide. It is through these connections that I have had the opportunity to meet individuals who have entered my life and enriched it in exceptional ways, and they continue to do so. I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and relationships that have shaped me along the way.

This article was translated by @ross.gspr

Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal opinions of the authors and do not reflect the views of affiliated organizations. The information is for informational purposes only and not intended as professional advice.

References:

Dealing with the Feels After an Employee Quits. (2021, 1 noviembre). Harvard Business Review. Recuperado 18 de septiembre de 2022, de https://hbr.org/podcast/2021/10/dealing-with-the-feels-after-an-employee-quits