Have you been in a situation where your job is ending in a few weeks and the company is pushing you to get everything finalized for months ahead beforehand?

Anonymous

January 25,2024 at 7:25PM UTC

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Have you been in a situation where your job is ending in a few weeks and the company is pushing you to get everything finalized for months ahead beforehand? It's not my decision to leave and it feels like they are using me so they don't need to pay anyone until the workload becomes unmanageable.

On one hand, I'm grateful for the advanced notice but on the other, they are electing to eliminate the role and not planning on hiring for the foreseeable future. If it was just projects I was working on that would be understandable but it's putting plans in for months down the road. Is it just me or am I being taking advantage of when these types of projects would take months to complete? Do I have any recourse or should I just collect a paycheck and smile through my frustration?

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KatJanuary 25,2024 at 8:07PM UTC
Do what you can do in the next few weeks. Prioritize current projects and create an exit plan for handling your workload. Let them worry about the stuff beyond that. It's not your problem. They chose to let you go without a plan for what to do after you leave. Don't provide them with free labor or help. The future will take care of itself somehow.
AnonymousJanuary 25,2024 at 9:14PM UTC
That is exactly what they are doing. They are using every second of your last weeks to their advantage. This is their right. They are getting their money's worth and it's not your call.
What is in your control is not to work overtime (if you don't want to). To take your pto if you need to and to look after yourself.
AnonymousJanuary 25,2024 at 9:19PM UTC
You should be keeping standard hours (35-40 hours a week), but no need to go beyond that. If your managers balk, remember that they have no leverage over you at this point. (What are they going to do — fire you?)
If your managers are putting too much on your plate, tell them to prioritize your assignments and leave it at that.
In short, there is no reason for you to complete months of work in a shorter timeframe.
Don’t feel guilty about not going all in. This is not your problem to solve.
P.S.: If your company wants you to do more than you can handle in a standard day, maybe they should hire you as a consultant to complete any unfinished/new projects after your job winds down.
Amy Carissa OliverJanuary 26,2024 at 4:46PM UTC
Sit down with your manager and make them prioritize. "If you want me to do this, then what will I not be doing?" Make them choose 3-4 items and then send an email after the meeting that reiterates, "I will be doing XYZ and will not be doing ABC."