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Anonymous

01/08/21 at 6:59PM UTC

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Job Hunting Co-Worker

It has been brought to my attention that a co-worker is looking for a new job and hoping to be gone within the coming months. We are a small company, with myself, the job hunting co-worker and one other in our very busy department. My other co-worker (not job hunting) is going out on Maternity leave in 30 days and will be gone until June. Do I let upper management know that I have gotten wind that now both might be gone soon, or just keep myself out of it?? My gut says stay out of it, but I also know that if both are gone all the work will fall on me for quite a while and I honestly can't handle all of it. Thank you in advance for any and all advice!

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Anonymous

06/03/21 at 4:29PM UTC

Hmmm...

Melissa Holmes

01/13/21 at 10:51PM UTC

Unfortunately this has happened to me before. It's best not to say anything but prepare yourself. If she leaves, you are ready however, if she doesn't, you are still in a good spot. People change their minds all the time and if you tell your boss and she changes her mind, you will look like you are trying to stir up drama. No matter how it turns out, it's best to stay quiet.

Joanna Poe

649

01/10/21 at 7:54PM UTC

Stay out of it and wish your coworker well - they obviously don't want to be there, and if management hears about it, that will only make it worse/accelerate their departure. Maybe do say something in regards to the upcoming leave: ask if it would be possible to hire some temporary help or bring someone in from another department for a while because you and your other colleague won't be able to handle the load by yourselves - which may very well be true. That way, you can prepare them for the possibility that they need to support you, which will be doubly true if your job-seeking colleague gets an offer and leaves.

Anonymous

01/10/21 at 8:38PM UTC

P-l-e-a-s-e: It's not "myself" but instead "me". Thanks!

Sandra Trolinger

145

Contracts Administrator in Texas

01/10/21 at 7:46PM UTC

Stay in your lane and let things unfold. Your boss has to figure out how to make the workload happen and maybe you will get some overtime.

Rebecca Lee V

2.19k

Credentialing Specialist

01/10/21 at 7:39PM UTC

STAY OUT OF IT!!!!

Anonymous

01/10/21 at 7:06PM UTC

Since the future is a hypothetical projection - recognition of your assuming additional duties in a competent manner could be beneficial to your advancement.

Kimberly Friddle

The geekiest marketer in Houston

01/10/21 at 6:22PM UTC

One idea... since you are all maxed out and one co-worker will be going on maternity leave, perhaps you could lobby for a temp or consultant to fill in for that person while they are out. Then, you have minimized the amount of work that would fall to you if the unhappy co-worker leaves. Maybe you could even get the employee going on leave to assist in scoping out a justification- since it will make their job easier when they return if everything has been handled well in their absence.

User edited comment on 01/10/21 at 6:24PM UTC

Christine Wozniak

| Fertility & Family-Forming Benefits |

01/10/21 at 7:40PM UTC

I agree with Kimberly. Knowing your co-worker might leave, try even harder than you would normally to advocate for a temp to cover the co-worker on mat leave!

Anonymous

01/10/21 at 4:58PM UTC

I’m that co-worker that is leaving in a couple months due to my s/o taking a position in another state. I planned on staying on until I secured a position, but being open with my boss about it, shot me in the foot. While they’re keeping me on for a bit, I was asked to provide a last day. I would stay out of it!

Anonymous

01/10/21 at 4:27PM UTC

It’s taken me anywhere from months to over a year to find a new job in the past, and that was when there were not millions of people unemployed and also looking. What happens if you tell your boss this person is job hunting and they get fired? This person could be out of work for a looong time just because you’re worried your workload will increase. Yikes. You don’t even know for sure it will. Ask your boss if a freelancer can be hired to cover for the maternity leave - that’s super common. But leave the job hunter alone.