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uncomfortable position.
3

uncomfortable position.

uncomfortable position.

(OP)
A colleague in another department has informed me of his plans to move on, am I duty bound to mention it or should I keep quiet?
thoughts?
James

RE: uncomfortable position.

To each their own. I agree with KENAT that it would be best to stay quiet. You don't want to be branded that "brown noser". If it will really help you to get into the good books of a principal/partner, then MAYBE it is worth it.

We are Virginia Tech
Go HOKIES

RE: uncomfortable position.


Keep you mouth shut.  What if he changes his mind?

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

RE: uncomfortable position.

I agree. He could also be playing you, and others, to see what your reactions are.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

RE: uncomfortable position.

Even if you did tell your boss - the ONLY person who might even possibly admire you later on will be that boss - and I am a boss and don't appreciate team members ratting each other out..not good for the organization for so many reasons.

KYMS - Keep your mouth shut...

RE: uncomfortable position.

He either told in confidence and assumed you wouldn't tell, in which case you shouldn't tell.  Or he told you hoping you would tell, also hoping that when management found out they would make him an attractive offer to make him stay.  This is the sort of game you are better off staying out of, so again you should keep your mouth shut.

RE: uncomfortable position.

Ultimately, that decision is yours alone, and is dependent on factors that we have no knowledge about.  Nor do you know what factors might be involved in your colleague's situation.

Ultimately, you need to decide what reasons there might be for telling, which, I think, are primarily dictated by the actual or perceived value of this employee.  Do you even care?  Would the company really care?

TTFN

FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: uncomfortable position.

I'm with ctopher on this one.  This is a tactic I have used in the past to discover the source of information "leaks". You could be getting setting up.  Unless the ramifications are serious harm to the company or a customer, I'd keep mum.

RE: uncomfortable position.

A closed mouth gathers neither feet nor flies.

Assume the information was given in confidence, and look as shocked as everyone else when your colleague announces their departure.

RE: uncomfortable position.

Think of it like an invite to a surprise party. Unless you know someone else has been invited, best to not say anything so no one's feelings get hurt.  

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

RE: uncomfortable position.

Mouth shut, prepare for any effects their departure may have.

RE: uncomfortable position.

So far as I know, the only person required to inform management of anyone leaving or having plans to move on is that person  themselves and they will do so in due course.

If he wanted anyone else to know he will have told them.
If he is a particular friend of yours you would already know how to treat this information so I assume he is not especially a friend, just a work colleague.

So again, why did he tell you? Did you ask him?
If he told you and only you, why? If he has told everyone, have no fear, some one else will tell and save you the worry.
 

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

RE: uncomfortable position.

I'm with Moon161, keep quiet and prepare for their departure if it will affect your work.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?

RE: uncomfortable position.

james78,

Put yourself in your colleagues position. If you had told him about a pending move, would you appreciate him breaking the news to the powers that be?

I don't understand why you would even consider telling. By doing so, you stand to lose not only the 'friendship' of that colleague, but also the friendship of other colleagues who may find out you are a back-stabbing rat-fink who can't be trusted. You also stand to lose a potential "foot in the door" at the place he is moving to.

RE: uncomfortable position.

If you friends departure plans include sabotage, a list of names and a gun, or other deviations from the normal 'leaving to make more money for less/better work/shorter drive', you may have an ethical problem. Otherwise, mouth shut, plan for what might happen. Coming and going is normal.

RE: uncomfortable position.

Seriously? Unless, as moon161 put it, there are ethical considerations... don't say anything.

Sheesh... Just the fact that you're asking this question makes me sad. What ever happened to those in the trenches sticking together?

V

RE: uncomfortable position.

Never pass up a good opportunity to keep your yap shut.

RE: uncomfortable position.

Tell on yourself for thinking about this....seems like this fellow has somehow got under your skin...

peace
Fe

RE: uncomfortable position.

You really just need to do an ENGINEERING analysis--what are the costs and benefits or telling? vs. the costs/benefits of keeping your mouth shut.  Whenever I've done that it has been clear that I personnaly get nothing from ratting the guy out, but I risk irritating management (no one likes a rat) and alienating my collegue (who may be my boss someday, as I can tell you from personal experience).  On the other side, there is no plus, but there is no minus.  The analysis comes down strongly in favor of silence.  Permanant silence (everyone will be pissed if you start telling the office that you knew about this months ago).  Don't even tell your wife or dog let alone a bunch of strangers on eng-tips.com.  You really should red flag this thread and ask site management to delete the whole thing.

David

RE: uncomfortable position.

keep your mouth shut, and make sure you link up with him on linkedin, so when the grass starts looking greener you can have an inside man in the next pasture.

RE: uncomfortable position.

How is this an uncomfortable position for you?  Were you informed of this in the back seat of a Volkswagon?  Like Moon161 I see no reason to say anything unless he talked about going out in a blaze of gunfire.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

RE: uncomfortable position.

VW... now THAT would be an uncomfortable position.  haha

RE: uncomfortable position.

What, haven't you seen a Campmobile?

As before, there is no benefit or duty to rat on your fellow worker.

RE: uncomfortable position.

If you are the boss and you are told that someone is leaving, what do you do with that information?  Fire the guy based on a rumor? Do you confront the employee?  What outcome would you expect?  The answer will always be "I'm not leaving" whether true or false.

A boss that would do this deserves to be abandoned.  A good boss knows that this is normal and not to take it personally.

To answer your question, "No.

RE: uncomfortable position.

The only thing that I would add is that everyone is replaceable.

RE: uncomfortable position.

I agree with everyone else to keep this to yourself, but also look at it as an opportunity.  If he has any company purchased references on his desk that you want, you can now call first dibs on them and ask him to bring them to your desk before he gives his notice :)

RE: uncomfortable position.

I disagree....rat him out.  Then be prepared to get your ass kicked.    

RE: uncomfortable position.

The OP has not provided enough information about the reasons why the colleague is leaving; the OPs position in the company, the size of the company, the impact of the guy leaving the company (good or bad), whether the guy would stay if a better offer was made....

I would say 9 times out of 10 the responses would be the same as my suggestion.

The cost of recruitment is high both financially and time wise. As a senior member of staff, I am sure that my boss would be upset if they found out afterwards that I knew someone was leaving and did not say.

RE: uncomfortable position.

It is always better to keep your mouth shut, but if you are in a company where practically everyone is a rat, should you join the game or not?

RE: uncomfortable position.

Hey OP It was me. I was just checking you.
 

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