First, don't wait until the last day to straighten up your personal computer files and pack your stuff – this takes time. Have your new email address set up to give to people. Your Baker Hughes email account, autoreply, phone number, and cell number will vanish quickly – perhaps before your last day. Take the time to talk to people and say goodbye (they won't fire you, for goodness sake!) If you can't reach someone, send an individual, personalized email. If you send a farewell email – don't spam the entire business unit. Remember that these are people who may become your employers, co-workers, or business partners in the future.
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You may want to take a loan, refinance your house or set up a home equity line of credit while still employed. Print your the statements for your applicable retirement plans. Pay for continuing life insurance before the grace period expires. Lastly, pull forward some pending medical, dental, or vision work before your last day.
Read the redundancy settlement agreement closely - in some cases they will try and include a non-compete clause which effectively means you cannot work in the same line of work in another company ever again. They tried that with a few people I know but their employment lawyers got the clause struck out as its illegal in various states and apparently also illegal in Europe as you are being let go rather than leaving voluntarily.
You also have a right to have copies of documentation in your personnel file, i.e., reviews, promotions, etc.
You have the right to keep copies of documents you sign. Remember that pile of papers you signed without reading when you started this job, or that confidentiality agreement your boss shoved in front of you? Somewhere along the way you may have agreed not to work for a competitor; or not to solicit or communicate with clients, vendors and employees of the company for a year or two. It’s also conceivable that you gave up the right to a jury trial or agreed to arbitrate any disputes against your employer, rather than suing.
Whether you’re leaving the company, or plan to hang your hat there for a while, get a copy of everything you sign when you sign it. If it’s too late for that, ask to see a copy of your personnel file so you can get copies. If your company says they don’t have to give it to you, they may be right in some states; know your rights before you have a dispute. But you can still try saying, “How am I supposed to know what I’m not allowed to do if you won’t give me a copy of my agreement?”
If they still won’t give a copy, send the head of personnel an email or letter saying that you have asked for a copy of any agreement you signed; that the company has not provided it; and that you will proceed on the assumption that there are none unless they give you a copy within 72 hours.
You don’t have the right to free speech at work. If you complain about bullying, a hostile environment or anything that is not illegal, you aren’t protected against retaliation. You can be fired for your speech in the workplace (or even outside the workplace) if you don’t work for the government. If you write a long letter to the CEO complaining that your boss is unprofessional, you aren’t protected. If you have a loud argument with your co-worker about a hot political issue, you have no legal protection either.
Good advice.. From experience can I add ..update all those accounts where you've used your bhi email address. If you forget your password you won't be able to reset. (401K, benefits, bank, utilities, etc..) Also, if you have a company cellphone HR can request IT to put a remark in your AT&T account profile giving approval that you can retain your number. Request HR do this at your exit meeting.. it's a nightmare to do later.