Last Day at Northrop Grumman

Note: I am preparing a letter for George Haley.

On my last day, Tuesday, June 30, my manager James Lamar came by to see me at approximately 2:15PM, as he was to escort me out of the plant at 3:00PM.

Of course, having never retired before, I did not know of this procedure, and had planned on staying until my normal stop time of 5:30PM.

Imagine the excitement I experienced when he started questioning me on the checklist of things needed to be done prior to my leaving - THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I had heard of several of the items on this checklist!!

I now understood that I needed to go to "Payroll" for my final check at "Douglas and Mariposa". After visiting the building undergoing renovation and talking with the nice construction worker, and making another phone call, I was told that "Payroll" was actually at "Nash and Mariposa".

Of course, "Payroll" closes early - 3:30PM? Fortunately, the manager works longer hours than the peons - she was the one who processed my final check and got my signature.

At "Payroll", the manager also took my badge. I had planned on turning in my badge to the guard at the end of the day, as Beth Fernandez of F-35 Security said that I could during my de-briefing earlier that day.

What I also noticed on the paperwork was that the request for the final check was made at 2:21PM - just a few minutes earlier - Northrop Grumman does things FAST.

Not having a badge, I hung around the parking lot hoping to see an employee who would escort me back into the building so that I could get my stuff and finalize my departure preparations.

Fortunately, I saw Patricia Moore, who escorted me back into the building. Tony Licausi escorted me out after I had completed at 6:00PM my final departure activities.

George, perhaps Northrop Grumman might want to have a more clearly defined process and procedure for dealing with retirees.

The only thing that I got from the system was "Go over checklist with Manager", which occurred at 2:15PM of my final day, as he expected to escort me out at 3:00PM.

After thirty-four years with Northrop Grumman, I must admit that this seems typical of Northrop Grumman - I am only writing this to make a suggestion for making it "better" for the next retiree.


Disclaimer: SORRY - This is only what I know from my point of view. No lies, just what I see as the truth.