My coworker put in his 2 weeks notice.

35 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 30,2022 at 9:04PM UTC

   Best advice is to not say anything. It is your co-worker responsibility to let management know, not you. It is possible that he may have already told the manager already and is making some arrangements behind the scenes. And if he did not tell mgt it would be in poor taste for you to jump the gun and notify them before he decides to. Even though he made it your business to know. Pretend like you were never told.

2. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 12:54AM UTC

   He already told our manager. Just waiting for her to break the news to me.

3. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 12:03PM UTC

   Got it, I re-read your post. If you still feel the anxiety. There are only 40hrs in a week. Set the personal boundary for yourself to only commit to work what you can get done. Even if they assign you some of his work, Don't jeopardize your well being by working beyond that. Your employer needs to step up and find a replacement. That should not be your burden. I know that is easier said than done. But you are well within your right to set your work life balance boundary.

4. Melissa VerdoniJuly 11,2022 at 3:26PM UTC

   what does it change ?? you already KNOW. relax and breathe. and when the time comes talk to your boss. There is ONLY so much a person can do in a week, people go on vacation , and the work still gets done. boss do NOT have an obligation to tell anyone about people who quit , your post being the exact reason they dont. as for training, thats another story. you can seek advice from your boss.

5. AnonymousJune 30,2022 at 9:23PM UTC

   I totally empathize with your story as I have dealt with that before but I would not discuss it with your boss and when the time comes and they try to put more work on you, just do your best and don’t overwork.
   If they aren’t talking of a raise then don’t do more than you need to. If management complains then professionally tell them you are doing your best but this is a work load for more than one person. If they want you around a bit longer they will respect that

6. AnonymousJune 30,2022 at 9:29PM UTC

   Anticipating the message is counter productive abd won't change the outcome. He will most like wait very close to your coworker leaving.

   Everything will work out exactly how how it will whether it us announced now or in a couple of weeks

   In the meantime get some rest over the 4th of July holiday so you are ready for the extra work.

7. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 12:56AM UTC

   I should also say I’m a terrible trainer!

   I’m also dreading when the position is backfilled because I will have to do the training and I know it’s far from my strong suit. I have no patience for it and it had the potential to send me packing also.

   my depression and anxiety have also already been at an all time high and this is just adding to it and putting me on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.

8. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 12:56PM UTC

   I think you are building this up to be catastrophic. It sounds like you're in the wrong job if you have this level of anxiety and depression.

9. AnonymousJuly 1,2022 at 5:28PM UTC

   Well thanks for that lack of helpful advice and proving why there is such a stigma around mental illness.

10. BeaBoss979975July 11,2022 at 3:17PM UTC

    This is simply an observation. One with which I agree. I tend to do the same thing with my own anxiety and depression, and having someone remind me that I have gone down that particular rabbit hole helps me stop and climb out.

11. Audrey KirschJuly 4,2022 at 4:10PM UTC

    If the manager already knows, they are probably working on a plan for a replacement or a way to redistribute the work. Just concentrate on your job. No sense stressing over what might be before you know what is going to happen. If your fears materialize into more work or training, make it clear what you are able to handle, what you can’t and why.

12. Kristie WhiteJuly 6,2022 at 1:03PM UTC

    Your co-worker was very thoughtful and respectful of you when he told you first. Please don’t repay his thoughtfulness by jumping the gun. This is his personal change to reveal and manage, show yourself to be responsible enough to handle confidential information. In the meantime, do your job and maybe think of ways you could use a temporary. If the workload is that heavy, quality will suffer immediately during the recruitment and onboarding. Have some suggestions ready for your manager when the announcement comes rather than being Chicken Little screaming “the sky is falling!” Your manager will be impressed and this just might turn into an opportunity

13. Crystal HowellJuly 8,2022 at 2:48PM UTC

    Calm down, he trusted you so sit tight. If work is too much, start looking to promote yourself!

14. AnonymousJuly 9,2022 at 12:52PM UTC

    Give yourself some credit for seeking advice during a stressful time.
    Take a breath and consider what might happen if you mention something told to you in confidence. If your relationship with your co-worker is a good one, that is a bridge you might need in the future. Don’t burn it. In the meantime, focus on your current tasks instead of hypothetical ones. This could be an opportunity for you, unless the environment is regularly causing this level of stress. Good luck!

15. Beth HarrisonJuly 10,2022 at 12:37PM UTC

    Use the time to come up with a plan. Put the things you do in priority order, list what you believe you have to do and rank them. Then list what your peer does and do the same. Pull in the time that each one takes per day/week/month.

    Revisit the list and what you have to do and list what could be done by someone else.

    Pull in the times and show how many hours the totals will be for everything.

    Come up with a plan for a temp worker listing costs and benefits.

    See about getting an intern.

    Are there others that can take one some of it?

    does it all belong in your teams wheelhouse?

    pull all the info together

    Create screen shots and instructions while you are doing some of the task/projects and have your co-worker do the same for as long as they are still working with you.

    Use your energy to create and be productive- this way once the boss does come to you, you have a plan, potential solutions, and you will show you put some thoughtful work into solving the problem.

    you may not be able to solve the issues but you can show a thoughtful process.

    if it doesn’t work/boss not receptive then maybe it’s time to also look into updating your resume.

16. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 12:53PM UTC

    This looks like work the manager should be do (plans for temp, costs/benefits, finding coverage…)

17. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 2:11PM UTC

    I would just think about what is on my plate so that when the manager comes to you, you can list what is on your plate to ask what they will have to let slide. You can't do it all and you want your manager to prioritize the work. They need to make the call and know what won't get done as they will likely need to address it with stakeholders and others that timelines will slide and work won't get done at the same pace until a backfill is onboarded and trained. Hopefully they are working with your co-worker to document any specific processes that he does that you do not. I'd ask what the timeline for hiring and onboarding looks like and what their training plan is. It will make you more comfortable to have that information (and hopefully get your manager thinking if they haven't already). Good luck! Do what you can but don't burn yourself out. Heck, if you know someone who would be good for the role and you'd like to work with, consider a referral once you are told about the resignation - not sure if your company offers a referral bonus but they can be quite lucrative and it is nice to know that your new co-worker is someone you like and respect. Not always possible but if it is, then always worth trying to get a good partner to work with.

18. AnonymousJuly 10,2022 at 10:18PM UTC

    Could be the manager and HR are working on a counter offer back to the employee to stay.

    But you don't break your co-worker's trust. Maybe they haven't given their notice. Maybe they wanted to see if you could be trusted.

    I am sure you are overwhelmed with work and are afraid of their departure and what it means for you.

    As one poster stated, get your ducks in a row and start listing out your current activities and projects. Understand those commitments to your work week.

19. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 12:23PM UTC

    It's always weird when you are put into the position of being someone's secret keeper. Nothing regarding you has changed, though, so just keep doing what you are supposed to do. If nothing has happened, they easily could be negotiating a way to keep the co-worker.

20. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 12:46PM UTC

    Sometimes companies never tell you when people are leaving.
    Sometimes they’re instructed to not tell any of their coworkers and one day they’re just gone and everyone’s like “hey what happened to Steve? - Oh Steve quit.”
    I think this is because management doesn’t want to draw attention to people that are leaving.
    As it then might encourage several others to start a job search of their own.
    Let us know how it turns out

    oh and don’t worry about the fullness of your plate.
    if the team or the company or department you work in starts to burn like a dumpster fire just remember, it’s your management’s fault for not hiring someone. You cannot stress yourself out about it. Just make sure the most important stuff gets done and if they don’t hire someone soon time to get yourself a new job too.

21. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 12:54PM UTC

    It's your manager to figure out how the work is going to be done until a replacement is hired. Try not to stress.

    You don't need to get all your coworker's work done on top of yours. If you do that then they'll never hire a replacement and you'll burn yourself out. Just figure out how much you can get done each day. If your boss does come to you asking you to cover the extra work, ask your boss which of your current responsibilities can be put on hold so that you have the time to work on the new tasks.

    Good luck!

22. Valerie RiegerJuly 11,2022 at 12:55PM UTC

    Your coworker told you something in confidence. Please keep his confidence.

23. Focused721350July 11,2022 at 2:08PM UTC

    God Morning,

    First off! Chill! Your bringing on stress when you have no clue yet. If it's out of your control "STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT"! Your making yourself sick! "BREATHE"!!!! Just focus on your own work and when and IF your boss has more work for you than deal with it! They more than likely going to hire someone to replace him.

    Good Luck and God Bless, Ms. T ;)

24. Maggie StoneJuly 11,2022 at 3:14PM UTC

    Don’t stress about work that hasn’t been assigned to you yet.
    There are too many unknown factors. Maybe your coworker doesn’t leave. Maybe they are already working on hiring someone else. Maybe the work will get dumped on someone else or be divided. Focus your energy on the only place you have power: right here, right now.

25. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 3:28PM UTC

    It’s not your position to tell anyone, and it would just be you gossiping at this point. His job is literally not your business- until they tell you it is.

    Your workload may grow for awhile, but it hasn’t yet; and I am sure they are looking for a replacement

26. Bernadette M MartinezJuly 11,2022 at 4:20PM UTC

    I think you're misreading what OP is saying. The person quitting told them that they are leaving the company. OP has concerns they want to address with the boss about their workload sustainability. That's not gossiping. That's advocating for their own wellbeing at work.

    And there is no guarantee they will even look for a replacement. It wouldn't be the first time we've heard that happen anywhere.

27. Chriscodyc1July 13,2022 at 12:40PM UTC

    There Is no misunderstanding. OP doesn’t know for certain coworker handed in resignation; only that the coworker said they did.

    What if coworker hadn’t officially resigned yet? It is not the OP’s place to approach anyone.

    Keep doing the work and if the position actually is vacated and work responsibilities increase, then talk about it.

28. AnonymousJuly 13,2022 at 7:11PM UTC

    Coworker is officially gone as of an hour ago. I was told on the 5th by my manager that his last day would be today. There was no question ever that him telling me he was leaving was a question. It was 100% happening.

    I now have the work of 2 people for an unknown amount of time while my manager searches for a backfill.

    meanwhile I’m expected to keep up 100% of the work on both positions with no additional compensation.

    I now have 1-1/2 feet out the door.

29. BeaBoss979975July 13,2022 at 11:21PM UTC

    Good luck in your job search. I wish you a much better position very soon.

30. AnonymousJuly 14,2022 at 11:46PM UTC

    No, not missing what she said… Her Co-Worker told her. Again, it is not her business to tell anyone, until she has been told by her bosses that the co-worker is leaving. Sounds like they should never have confided in her…. Then she would not be stressing out right now, and or, thinking about telling someone else’s business- He confided in her - which means it was confidential.

31. Bernadette M MartinezJuly 11,2022 at 4:27PM UTC

    Your boss likely won't tell you until the one leaving is gone.

    If you're that worried about what is goin to fall to you, talking to your boss seems reasonable. I do think you should let your soon-to-be former coworker know that you're going to approach the boss about what will be expected in the interim. They gave you the courtesy of knowing sooner they will be leaving so that seems reasonable to me. They may not want you to for some reason, which I can only think the boss wouldn't want it spread, but that's not their choice either. Unless you have a VERY close personal relationship with them, I'm not inclined to give that much weight.

    There is no guarantee they will even look for a replacement. It wouldn't be the first time we've heard that happen anywhere. I think being proactive will ease your anxiety and make your day-to-day easier for you and make sure that your boss knows one person in the role is not sustainable.

32. AnonymousJuly 11,2022 at 7:27PM UTC

    Was totally in the same stich! Turns out my former coworker was telling everyone and being rude about it. I ended up looking a little disingenuous but I do think it always comes out in the end. Anyway you will have more work for a while. Try to get something for doing it. WFH, wifi, cash, idk. Keep up your own good work!

33. Ann Marie Francis-BaileyJuly 11,2022 at 8:00PM UTC

    Use the time wisely and strategize. Frankly its not your place to tell anyone so stop stressing. What if your co-worker is weighing his/her options and doesn't leave the organization. Just breathe and continue being the best that you can be.

    Things usually work themselves out.

34. Heggie AzimJuly 13,2022 at 8:19AM UTC

    Your coworker might be resigning just like me being pressured by crazy mean manager and untrustworthy coworkers or in other words backstabbers so when he or she already told you she is about to leave it means she doesn’t enjoy being part of that team anymore and that’s her choice, why her choice is bothering you?!

35. Rachel StolworthyAugust 2,2022 at 9:07PM UTC

    Wow... that is one long run on sentence that is not at all helpful, kind or necessary. Think you are seeing posters' situation through the lens of your own.