Hello all,

26 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 20,2023 at 6:55PM UTC

   You have the right idea about how to approach it. Make sure that it is time-bound. For example: If they haven't found your replacement within a month of your departure, you will not return, and they will have to go on their own.

2. AnonymousJune 20,2023 at 7:25PM UTC

   Always get a retainer up front to ensure prompt compensation and then just invoice against that.
   I've found that leadership does not see these transition efforts as truly owed. I have seen owners and CEO treat them as "owed" because you left the company. It's a very entitled mindset so they make it difficult to get paid.

3. AnonymousJune 20,2023 at 10:23PM UTC

   I say no.
   Don 't do it.

   You gave and honored or are planning to honor your two weeks and I'm sure left notes, etc.. if you haven't left them, I'd start writing NOW.

   Not your issue. Odd, the handbook requires you train the next person - am I understanding correctly?

   I'm not trying to be unprofessional here, but focus on your new journey. You left the organization for a reason - tell them you would love to, but your intense training schedule at the new company.....

   If you feel like it's something you need to do, get a retainer for sure!! As you mentioned, this will cost them - you will be taken advantage of and I don't want that for you. Maintain YOUR hours, schedule and if they balk, they are welcome to find someone else to train or do it themselves. (If your successor quits prematurely, they will probably contact you again.)

   As a side note, at a prior firm, my predecessor trained me wrong on purpose from upper management - two levels higher than her -- so I'd fail and she could have her job back with a raise (she quit over salary). I know you wouldn't be that underhanded - but it amazes me why organizations bring people back in these situations. The new person can say you trained her wrong as well if you inadvertently rub her the wrong way.

   I'd say my goodbyes, get a letter of recommendation, leave notes and start elsewhere

4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJune 21,2023 at 8:07AM UTC

   Charge them at least double your hourly rate and set firm boundaries. The time to negotiate all that is up front when you have the leverage.

5. Paula Manczuk-HannayJune 21,2023 at 12:30PM UTC

   i have done this twice in my career and neither experience was particularly positive. It felt like I was doing all the heavy lifting. My previous employers seemed to take no responsibility in learning what my job was in support of the new hire. In one case, I felt horrible for my replacement as she was going to be stuck once I was really gone.

   My advice is to pass. Off load everything you can, tie up loose ends, etc but on your last day, leave and don’t look back. It is not your responsibility. Don’t let them convince you that it is. Also. You’re going to want to focus on your new opportunity. Don’t risk missing anything there because you’re still tied to your previous job.

6. GirlBossanova934974June 21,2023 at 12:36PM UTC

   I would avoid "coming back" to this organization after your 2 weeks are up. However if the pay rate is good and the time period is well defined, that is OK. But before you agree to anything, BE SURE you get it all in writing, signed, etc. AKA a signed contract. Be sure the hourly rate is there, the list of tasks, and the time period and the ALL IMPORTANT TERMS OF PAYMENT. I would put in the contract that you are to provide an invoice every 2 weeks to the Accounting Department and the company has 5 business days after the invoice is presented to make payment. A company check or electronic funds transfer is good. Both of you have the right to terminate the agreement after the time period is expired with no explanation or recourse. I have learned the hard way about payment terms. Some companies like to play games and hold up payments for weeks if not months.

7. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netJune 21,2023 at 1:10PM UTC

   This is not a good idea at all. You gave your 2 week notice and it is their responsibility to hire and train. This will be a disaster, trust me. Move on to your new job and don't look back. It is not your job to train your replacement after you have gone.

8. Mary PoolJune 21,2023 at 1:29PM UTC

   How will you explain leaving your new job to return to your old life? How does this show commitment to your new position? My analogy would be this is the same as breaking up with someone and then telling your new someone you must go back to make them comfortable. How well would that sit? It isn’t worth the cost. No money can make up for showing a new job you are not committed to. The old job is in your rearview mirror. Keep it there.

9. AnonymousJune 21,2023 at 1:50PM UTC

   Perhaps use your last two weeks to put together a comprehensive training guide/transition documentation that covers whatever you would train a new person on. That way new person can train on their own and maybe you just need to take a few phone call but not have to come back.

10. BethBJune 21,2023 at 2:33PM UTC

    No. Hell to the no. Do not jeopardize your future out of some sense of misguided loyalty to the past. You owe them nothing. And guess what… that loyalty would never ever be returned. Do what you can to put together some notes and that’s it. When you leave you can simply say that you can’t have that amount of time from your new job. And then do not interrupt your day to answer texts or emails. Answer them when you want, on your schedule.

11. AnonymousJune 21,2023 at 5:01PM UTC

    Legally they cannot enforce that. If you don't want to train the replacement don't do it. You should be instead focusing on your new job and getting embedded there. Irrespective of what is in the employee handbook you could offer to in the last 2 weeks of your employment do some videos or write a guide/playbook for how to do the job. If you choose to help out after the fact take your salary divide it by 2080 which will give you your hourly rate and then add 10-20 per hour for consulting. Only do it if you get a contract in writing that says they will pay you within 10 days. Otherwise walk away and wish them the best. You are not burning a bridge here, and unless they hired you as a trainer it's really your managers job to train the next incumbent.

12. Stephanie Hill AlexanderJune 21,2023 at 5:46PM UTC

    I was in a somewhat similar situation years ago when I was in my 20s. I left my retail job for my dream job working as an admissions counselor for a local college. It was Christmas time and I felt bad leaving my regional manager in a bit of a lurch at a busy time, so I agreed to work very part time in the evenings and weekends. It was a disaster - I was always tired, I felt disconnected from the new job, and I wound up not giving either my best effort or energy. If you can not commit to the training without burning bridges, I'd advise you to do that. Good luck to you!

13. AnonymousJune 21,2023 at 6:13PM UTC

    They don't have time???

    What makes them think YOU do? It's their organization and you provided the 2w notice.

    I'd write out notes, record a Teams video and/or leave samples that someone can follow along with such as reports and the source documents along with contact info.

    Taking care of them after you leave isn't your responsibility. It's not about burning bridges, but being as proactive as possible in the situation

14. AnonymousJune 21,2023 at 6:19PM UTC

    I worked at a place that was disorganized in a major way.
    As an accountant, they brought in a person my last two days

    She was a FT housekeeper (no negativity towards housekeepers at all!!) She never used Excel, didn't know anything about accounting (wouldn't expect her to at the senior level I was for my role). It was uncomfortable for both of us with management saying I needed to figure out how to overcome this.

    I used vlookups for reporting and this poor girl couldn't add A2+B2 on cell C2. Again, different industries.

    Temp agency brought in a warm body and I was expected to help her. She understandablely quit at lunch time on day 2, my last day of the two weeks

    VERY disorganized.

    I got the new job on a Friday and notified this place Monday and had a FULL two weeks. Organization was "busy".

15. Kristie WhiteJune 21,2023 at 6:38PM UTC

    I would do your best to prepare notes and training materials before you depart and then leave it at that. Right now, all you have is hearsay and nothing may come of it. More than likely, your supervisor will not feel comfortable calling you to come back and do training by the time they have onboarded a replacement. There are lots of things that can happen in the interim. When you say goodbye, you can offer your phone number and/or email at your new job - or at home if you want to ensure they don't bother you at work. And tell them to feel free to send you an email and give you 24 hours to respond as you will be reviewing it on personal time. Your scarcity will cool their desires to bring you in for training and support a strong hourly rate should you choose to work with them as a contractor to conduct the training.

16. AnonymousJune 21,2023 at 10:11PM UTC

    I'm in this situation currently and I am surprised to see this happening to others. What did they think, we were never going to leave? ?

17. AnonymousJune 22,2023 at 11:49AM UTC

    Are you sure you want to go back there? I advise you that, if you go back there. There is no going back. I suggest you to move on and have a stable career and a good experience. I also have a hard life with my friend who is toxic. I don’t let him disturb me. I have discied to move on and have a new life.

18. Amy GeffenJune 22,2023 at 12:17PM UTC

    You don't have to go back to train the new employee. How will you arrange hours with your new job? If you do go back you need to write an agreement with rime and compensation for your training.

19. AnonymousJune 22,2023 at 12:30PM UTC

    Personally, I would not agree to it. You've given your notice and now it's on them to figure it out. Make sure you have all of your tasks, projects, etc. wrapped up/in a good place, leave detailed notes, but when you're done - you're done. Ask yourself this...if the tables were turned, what would they do?

20. AnonymousJune 22,2023 at 12:31PM UTC

    I understand your situation. I went back to train someone at a company I left because I had unique knowledge of the job. They paid me as a consultant for several days and I charged them 4 times my previous hourly pay rate. The company had no problem paying it and were extremely grateful I took the time to come back and have since been some of my best references.

21. Michele KingJune 22,2023 at 12:43PM UTC

    At my old job, I was pregnant and going on maternity leave end of January/first of February. I told them they needed to get a temp in by October... November at the latest due to the fact that I had the equivalent of a two person job and inventory was coming up that I ran. They waited until mid-December to hire someone who wasn't even halfway competent. I spent the first 2 weeks repeating myself, going over the same daily tasks over and over because my replacement wouldn't take notes, follow the instructions I had (they actually took the instructions home "to study" and forgot to bring them back) or retain anything. They didn't learn half my job in that timeframe and I was blamed. Same when I finally left and gave 3 weeks notice. I gave a 5" binder with step by step instructions (with pictures) with that same person, a copy to my boss ad a copy with HR. I heard through the grapevine that they still blamed me and that I didn't "do enough" to prepare them. Jokes on them because I've got a better job that pays more than double what I was making there.

22. AnonymousJune 22,2023 at 12:56PM UTC

    I think the key word in this scenario is "ask." You have a choice. If you have the time and you agree to the terms, what a great way to show your new employer how you operate as a team player and that although you are moving on, you still care about how you are leaving your previous job. No, you don't have to and maybe they don't deserve it, but what feels right to you? I didn't see anything in your post that leads me to believe the workplace was toxic or they treated you horribly. I hear and understand the "they wouldn't think twice about sticking it to you, so tell them to get lost," but I feel like that is what is wrong with our world today. What ever happened to kindness and trying to help out where we can? It's not like you would be training the new person for free, right? You would be helping and getting paid, most likely really good money. Why not? Good karma is the best karma.

23. Gem0124June 22,2023 at 1:04PM UTC

    How is that going to work with your new employer? I understand raising your rate but will your new employer be okay with you taking time to train someone to do your old job?

24. Rosa E HearnJune 22,2023 at 1:30PM UTC

    You did not make that company and you won't break that company.
    I would just leave. Employees come and go unfortunately. They will manage.

25. RaeJune 22,2023 at 2:28PM UTC

    Don't do it your not obligated to do anything. Have them train them.

26. AnonymousJune 24,2023 at 8:21PM UTC

    I would politely decline.

    You need to focus on your new role and your boss should be able to train them themselves or have the person that is picking up your responsibilities when you depart do it.