Resignation Checklist

Zhang Qiang looked at the "Resignation Application Flow Chart" on his computer screen. It was densely packed with 26 steps, each step corresponding to a stamped circle, like a maze. He sighed, spread the printed resignation application form on his desk, and counted from the beginning with his finger, making sure he hadn't missed any "necessary steps."

"Zhang Qiang, looking at your 'Long March Map' again?" His colleague, Li Mei, came over, holding a cup of steaming coffee. "Tsk tsk, I'm really envious of you. You're finally escaping the sea of ​​suffering."

Zhang Qiang smiled wryly, pointing to the third step on the flow chart, "Signature of the Human Resources Department Supervisor," and said, "Sister Mei, I haven't even started the 'Long March' yet. I'm still preparing for the 'departure ceremony'."

"Go for it, and try to complete the 'feat' before the end of the month." Li Mei patted Zhang Qiang's shoulder and turned back to her workstation.

Zhang Qiang began his long journey of "passing levels." The first was his direct supervisor, a bald middle-aged man, who deliberately paused for three seconds when stamping his resignation application, and then said earnestly, "Young people, you have to learn to cherish opportunities." Zhang Qiang could only nod with a smile, indicating that he would "cherish" every step of his resignation.

Then, he went through the signatures of the department head, the HR specialist, the HR supervisor, the administrative department's seal, the finance department's seal, the IT department's seal... Each step was like an exam, requiring him to answer various questions with a humble smile: "Reason for resignation? Future plans? Have you properly handed over your work?"

Each time he completed a step, he would check it off in red pen on the flow chart, like a soldier marking the strongholds he had occupied on a battle map. By the end of the day, he felt like he wasn't resigning, but completing a key national project.

As the days passed, the red checkmarks on Zhang Qiang's resignation application form increased, while his patience and enthusiasm waned. He began to doubt whether he was resigning or being swallowed by this massive process.

Finally, after three weeks, he had completed 25 steps. Only one remained - "General Manager's Signature."

Zhang Qiang took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and walked into the general manager's office. The general manager, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair, was looking down at a document, not even looking up at Zhang Qiang.

"General Manager, my resignation application has gone through 25 steps and now requires your signature," Zhang Qiang said cautiously.

The general manager looked up, sizing up Zhang Qiang, and slowly said, "Young man, this resignation process of yours is quite good, very much in line with our company's rules and regulations. But have you ever thought that these 26 approval processes are actually an important part of our company's operational system?"

Zhang Qiang was stunned, not understanding what the general manager meant.

"These 26 processes, each step, represents a department, a position, a responsibility in our company. Your resignation is not just a personal matter; it's also a part of the entire company's operational chain. You are an indispensable cog in this process."

The general manager picked up a pen, signed Zhang Qiang's resignation application, and handed it back to Zhang Qiang, with a thought-provoking smile on his face, "Congratulations, you have completed the process. From now on, you are no longer an employee of our company, you have become a part of our resignation process... a part of it."

Zhang Qiang took the resignation application form, which was densely covered with red stamps, looking like a carefully designed medal. He stared at the form and suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable fear. He found that although he had resigned, he was like a screw, permanently fixed in this huge and cold processing machine. His resignation was just another cycle of this process, and he had become a part of the process itself. He mechanically walked out of the general manager's office, and behind him came the general manager's soft cough and the rustling sound of turning pages, as if saying: Next. He suddenly laughed, and as he laughed, tears fell down his face. He finally understood that he had not escaped the system, but had become a part of it.