[ClHans]

Perhaps the positive consequence could be the simple matter of having done something because it is right.

Perhaps he could look back on that period of time and reflect that, rather than watch it happen, he took action. Even if it accomplished nothing, he could at least say "I saw something wrong and I worked to right it."

What can he say now? "I saw something wrong, watched it happen, and vacationed in Europe until I felt better."

One of these is morally praiseworthy. The other is not.

[yajoe]

There is a lot of gray with this story. One IC vs many middle managers and a VP will never turn out well for the IC, especially at Microsoft. I don't know what I could have done. To whom would I have sounded the alarm?

What I did: "I told my manager," "realized it's a systemic problem," "I was a friend to someone who needed one," "I helped her leave and get her next job," and "I quit."

I made lemonade and enjoyed time in Europe. But I don't think there was a choice to fight.

[fpgeek]

I'd say helping her leave and get her next job was the best thing you could have done for her.

Even if someone had solved this particular crisis, it sounds like she wasn't going to thrive in this political environment anyway. At that point, leaving is the best choice and, all too often, people don't see that.