If my employer is planning a big project around me, should I tell them I'm looking for a new job?

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I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project for which I am a critical resource. However, meanwhile I'm looking for a job.



My company has pretty low turnover and has a hard time hiring people so I know when I leave this will put them in a lurch. But I don't know how long it will take to find the right new place, so in the meantime I don't want it to be awkward.



Do I need to tell them about my job search given what's at stake for them?







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  • 28




    Whatever you do, watch out for buses!.
    – Elysian Fields♦
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:43






  • 5




    Are you worried that you will get a bad reference, that you will cause harm to your current company, or that you will not have a place to come back to if the new job does not work out?
    – IDrinkandIKnowThings
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:54






  • 15




    Like in a game of poker, never reveal your hand.
    – DA.
    Feb 7 '13 at 22:04






  • 5




    All but the lowest stratum of employees always have an eye out for a new opportunity! Just as every employer always is always considering ways to do more work with fewer employees. Both are being perfectly reasonable.
    – Jim In Texas
    Feb 7 '13 at 23:16






  • 30




    @Chad some people actually DO care about what happens to employers even if they're no longer working for them.
    – Amy Blankenship
    Feb 8 '13 at 4:46
















up vote
80
down vote

favorite
14












I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project for which I am a critical resource. However, meanwhile I'm looking for a job.



My company has pretty low turnover and has a hard time hiring people so I know when I leave this will put them in a lurch. But I don't know how long it will take to find the right new place, so in the meantime I don't want it to be awkward.



Do I need to tell them about my job search given what's at stake for them?







share|improve this question


















  • 28




    Whatever you do, watch out for buses!.
    – Elysian Fields♦
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:43






  • 5




    Are you worried that you will get a bad reference, that you will cause harm to your current company, or that you will not have a place to come back to if the new job does not work out?
    – IDrinkandIKnowThings
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:54






  • 15




    Like in a game of poker, never reveal your hand.
    – DA.
    Feb 7 '13 at 22:04






  • 5




    All but the lowest stratum of employees always have an eye out for a new opportunity! Just as every employer always is always considering ways to do more work with fewer employees. Both are being perfectly reasonable.
    – Jim In Texas
    Feb 7 '13 at 23:16






  • 30




    @Chad some people actually DO care about what happens to employers even if they're no longer working for them.
    – Amy Blankenship
    Feb 8 '13 at 4:46












up vote
80
down vote

favorite
14









up vote
80
down vote

favorite
14






14





I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project for which I am a critical resource. However, meanwhile I'm looking for a job.



My company has pretty low turnover and has a hard time hiring people so I know when I leave this will put them in a lurch. But I don't know how long it will take to find the right new place, so in the meantime I don't want it to be awkward.



Do I need to tell them about my job search given what's at stake for them?







share|improve this question














I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project for which I am a critical resource. However, meanwhile I'm looking for a job.



My company has pretty low turnover and has a hard time hiring people so I know when I leave this will put them in a lurch. But I don't know how long it will take to find the right new place, so in the meantime I don't want it to be awkward.



Do I need to tell them about my job search given what's at stake for them?









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edited Jul 8 '16 at 11:31









Lilienthal♦

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asked Feb 7 '13 at 21:42









zipquincy

8641812




8641812







  • 28




    Whatever you do, watch out for buses!.
    – Elysian Fields♦
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:43






  • 5




    Are you worried that you will get a bad reference, that you will cause harm to your current company, or that you will not have a place to come back to if the new job does not work out?
    – IDrinkandIKnowThings
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:54






  • 15




    Like in a game of poker, never reveal your hand.
    – DA.
    Feb 7 '13 at 22:04






  • 5




    All but the lowest stratum of employees always have an eye out for a new opportunity! Just as every employer always is always considering ways to do more work with fewer employees. Both are being perfectly reasonable.
    – Jim In Texas
    Feb 7 '13 at 23:16






  • 30




    @Chad some people actually DO care about what happens to employers even if they're no longer working for them.
    – Amy Blankenship
    Feb 8 '13 at 4:46












  • 28




    Whatever you do, watch out for buses!.
    – Elysian Fields♦
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:43






  • 5




    Are you worried that you will get a bad reference, that you will cause harm to your current company, or that you will not have a place to come back to if the new job does not work out?
    – IDrinkandIKnowThings
    Feb 7 '13 at 21:54






  • 15




    Like in a game of poker, never reveal your hand.
    – DA.
    Feb 7 '13 at 22:04






  • 5




    All but the lowest stratum of employees always have an eye out for a new opportunity! Just as every employer always is always considering ways to do more work with fewer employees. Both are being perfectly reasonable.
    – Jim In Texas
    Feb 7 '13 at 23:16






  • 30




    @Chad some people actually DO care about what happens to employers even if they're no longer working for them.
    – Amy Blankenship
    Feb 8 '13 at 4:46







28




28




Whatever you do, watch out for buses!.
– Elysian Fields♦
Feb 7 '13 at 21:43




Whatever you do, watch out for buses!.
– Elysian Fields♦
Feb 7 '13 at 21:43




5




5




Are you worried that you will get a bad reference, that you will cause harm to your current company, or that you will not have a place to come back to if the new job does not work out?
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Feb 7 '13 at 21:54




Are you worried that you will get a bad reference, that you will cause harm to your current company, or that you will not have a place to come back to if the new job does not work out?
– IDrinkandIKnowThings
Feb 7 '13 at 21:54




15




15




Like in a game of poker, never reveal your hand.
– DA.
Feb 7 '13 at 22:04




Like in a game of poker, never reveal your hand.
– DA.
Feb 7 '13 at 22:04




5




5




All but the lowest stratum of employees always have an eye out for a new opportunity! Just as every employer always is always considering ways to do more work with fewer employees. Both are being perfectly reasonable.
– Jim In Texas
Feb 7 '13 at 23:16




All but the lowest stratum of employees always have an eye out for a new opportunity! Just as every employer always is always considering ways to do more work with fewer employees. Both are being perfectly reasonable.
– Jim In Texas
Feb 7 '13 at 23:16




30




30




@Chad some people actually DO care about what happens to employers even if they're no longer working for them.
– Amy Blankenship
Feb 8 '13 at 4:46




@Chad some people actually DO care about what happens to employers even if they're no longer working for them.
– Amy Blankenship
Feb 8 '13 at 4:46










11 Answers
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Please don't tell them about your job search. I have witnessed this backfire. Just a few years ago, a person I knew worked for a small organization (a non-profit) which had grand plans for her future. She let them know that she was looking into another job, and they promptly fired her and hired a replacement.



Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint: they needed someone they could depend on to run the project, and that person would need some time to be brought up to speed beforehand, so moving quickly was in their best interests.



The person they fired, however, ended up not getting the new job and was completely screwed by her attempt to be nice. Don't put the needs of the business before your own.



Note that the employer was a non-profit, a group you might expect to be extra nice towards their employees. However they still had to consider their mission and what they needed to fulfill it, so...






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  • 96




    Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
    – Matthew Azkimov
    Feb 8 '13 at 1:01






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    "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
    – Sleeper Smith
    Feb 8 '13 at 1:40






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    I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
    – gerrit
    Feb 8 '13 at 9:03






  • 7




    In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
    – Keith
    Feb 8 '13 at 13:30






  • 3




    @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
    – hlovdal
    Feb 8 '13 at 20:07

















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No. It's the responsibility of the company to take whatever steps they deem necessary to ensure that one person doesn't become so critical that the company can't function without him.



That said, if you are a critical resource, have you had a conversation with your boss about whatever is causing you to look for another position to determine whether there is something they can do to make you happier in your current position? From a negotiating standpoint, your leverage probably won't ever be higher than it is now. And from the company's standpoint, it is likely to be far more efficient to give you whatever you need to be happy rather than trying to replace you in the middle of the project.






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  • 3




    yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
    – zipquincy
    Feb 7 '13 at 23:29







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    Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
    – Matthew Azkimov
    Feb 8 '13 at 0:59











  • @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
    – gbjbaanb
    Aug 29 '14 at 14:57

















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No.



Look at it the other way round. If they knew that you were planning a big life change (marriage, children, etc.), would that stop them making you redundant or reducing your hours if they needed to cut back to keep the company afloat?



I'm pretty sure the answer would be that they wouldn't. The first you would hear about it would be when they called you in to tell you that starting next month you were only on 20 hours a week (or whatever).



Keep working as though you are going to stay with the company - after all you might have to if you can't find another job. When you do find another job give as much notice as you can, but don't jeopardise the new job by trying to "be kind" to your current employer.



You employer should really have plans or contingency in place to deal with the sudden loss of "key" employees for what ever reason. The fact that most don't doesn't make it your responsibility to mitigate their problem.






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    Don't tell them that you're looking for a new job.



    Tell them the reasons why you feel the need to look.



    Tell them what you're unhappy with, what could be better and what you would really like to see change.



    Set up a meeting specifically about this or put it in writing. Make sure that they can't ignore that you're unhappy with the status quo.



    This makes the discussion about the things that might actually keep you, and avoids getting into ultimatums (which you never want to make in work) or battles of egos. You want to give them a way to 'win' without losing face.



    Then if they don't fix what you asked them to then when you find a new job you're not "leaving them in the lurch" because you already told them what they needed to do better.



    Note that all that's assuming that they could make changes that will keep you. If you're emigrating or something (though many companies could cope with very remote workers better than they realise) then just tell them and offer to help succession planning - most replacements take significantly longer to find and train than most notice periods.






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    • 2




      Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
      – Rafael Emshoff
      Jan 29 '14 at 12:52


















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    If this were a larger company, the "it's their problem, not yours" approach would be reasonable; it's their responsibility to plan for things like this. But in a small company, particularly a close-knit one, this can be hard -- you protect yourself and then surprise them with your resignation, they feel blindsided, you burn bridges... awkward.



    But telling them you're looking also isn't good; you don't know what your timeline is, things could change and you end up staying, but they'll always be suspicious.



    There are two things that seem reasonble to me (from the perspective of someone who's worked at several small companies and seen the close-knit dynamic at play):



    1. As Justin said, you should be discussing with them the things that are making you want to look elsewhere. Maybe you can address that and not have to leave.


    2. Approach the general problem: "Boss, with all the exciting work we're doing that seems to depend on specific people, I'm worried about what would happen if any of us got hit by a bus. What can we do about that?" Sure, if it's later revealed that you knew that bus's trajectory they may be unhappy, but you'll have at least tried to plan for it. That'll count for something if any of them are ever asked about you -- and if you work in a small professional circle, that's something to be mindful of.






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    • The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
      – Matthew Azkimov
      Feb 8 '13 at 1:07










    • I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
      – Alex
      Feb 8 '13 at 14:46

















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    Wow. As a business owner I'm surprised at the apparent absence of a sense of personal integrity in these answers. Should the OP tell his employer he's on his way out the door? Probably not. Should he have a "not my problem" attitude toward the company that has fed his family for the past however many years? Absolutely not.



    Small businesses don't have the luxury of abundant resources that allow for backups to key employees. We rely on the loyalty and integrity of our employees to conduct themselves in a manner that balances the interest of the company with their personal interests. That means that if you're unhappy and considering leaving, talk to your employer about your concerns.



    It also means that if you end up leaving, especially if it's not due to problems in the workplace (i.e. you got the proverbial offer you couldn't refuse), you structure your departure in such a way as not to leave your employer in a lurch. Maybe that's a transition out over four to six weeks, maybe it's offering your services after hours as a contractor for a period of time. In either case, the right thing to do is to offer everything in your power to minimize the disruption of your departure.



    You should consider that if this is indeed a small company that has challenges finding talent, your abrupt departure could endanger the organization and your current colleagues.






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    • 2




      How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
      – BryanH
      Sep 22 '15 at 20:48










    • In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
      – Josh Anderson
      Sep 23 '15 at 11:25






    • 3




      I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
      – BryanH
      Sep 24 '15 at 21:05

















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    Telling them now, invites them to worry about your commitment. That means that they will start thinking of you as a short timer.



    When a decent offer comes in then decide if you want to switch or not. That decent offer could be in a day. a month or a year. If it a perfect offer take it, if not you can reject it if the situation with your current company is good.



    Now would be the time to discuss your future with the company. Ask what happens in a year if the project is a success. Ask what success means. Ask if success will result in raise, promotion, or some other benefit. Though they generally won't put this in writing it will let you know what they are willing to discuss, and it will let them know that you are expecting some reward.



    As you move forward you can add into your calculus the promise of the reward for a job well done.






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      No. As long as you are doing the job you are paid to do, and don't have something else lined up, you don't have any obligation to tell them about the possibility of your departure.



      While it is great that you want to do what is best for them, always remember that the employer/employee relationship is primarily a business relationship, not a personal relationship. You are not obligated to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of your employer.



      When the time comes to leave, be as helpful as you can be, and don't feel guilty. If your employers express any outrage or feelings of betrayal, that would be unprofessional of them.



      FWIW, when I quit my first job, I thought I was critical to their success and that they would have a hard time without me. Somehow, they survived.






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        TLDR; they should already know that you are probably looking without you having to explicitly state it.



        If you're unhappy with your current job then they should know that by now. If you've already expressed what you are looking for in a job, and how you feel your current position doesn't fulfill that need, then they know you are dissatisfied with your current position. If you feel you are not progressing towards what you would like out of your job they should know that by now.



        If they don't know that by now, then you haven't communicated clearly enough with your employers to try to make the most of your current employment. Instead of simply moving on to try to "fix it" yourself, you need to make it clear what the issue is first. If they don't know the problem, they can't solve it (or even try).



        If they DO know the issues you have with your current employment, and they haven't been able to address it, then they know (at least in the back of their minds) that they are at risk of losing you.



        By explicitly stating that you are looking for another job in essence expresses to them, that you've completely given up on reaching your goals at their company. As a result, they will give up on you and you then have no other choice but to find another job.






        share|improve this answer





























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          What about approaching it from a different direction? Fulfill both your own need to protect your interests and look out for your current employers future operations without you by suggesting that such a large project should not be so dependent on a single person. Someone commented on the 'bus factor'....this is along those lines.



          Suggest that another person be hired/contracted for that project to help with engineering problems, share workload, maybe ship the new product faster? Unless it's a /really/ small company or in a hard financial situation, I would assume they could afford to find a part time contractor (this sort of describes what I do) who could devote enough time to be familiar with the project, that when you leave, you could comfortably turn the work over to them without having to train someone from scratch in the 2 weeks/1 month/whatever you notice was for.



          Another possibility, are you in an area where you could find an intern who might just want the experience and to be involved in a meaningful project? This would help your company with potentially lower financial investment, and if the intern worked out, they could have potentially already found their "new hire" after you leave, and it helps the intern gain experience.






          share|improve this answer



























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            This is a relationship question, so those of us who don't know you or your management personally can only give general suggestions.



            I have had one boss who had the kind of relationship where he wanted to know if I was looking, and even asked how my interview went before I ultimately left. He also took my request for a raise up with the VP, and told me honestly that I probably wouldn't get it, because (during the recession) the top management thought we should just be grateful to have a job.



            If you have an honest trusting relationship, you might even be able to work something out where you agree to stay through the end of the project, or long enough to bring your replacement up to speed, or agree to work a few hours a week as a contractor after you leave...



            Sadly, many companies and many managers are not that way. The advice to keep it to yourself is probably the best advice if you don't completely trust them. You may look for a long time before you find what you want, or even ultimately decide to stay where you are.



            My last piece of advice is to put your personal integrity first (Yes, even if it costs you your job). If you feel like you are being pushed to make commitments that you feel are not quite honest, find a way to make things right. You will be glad you did in the long run.






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              11 Answers
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              11 Answers
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              up vote
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              Please don't tell them about your job search. I have witnessed this backfire. Just a few years ago, a person I knew worked for a small organization (a non-profit) which had grand plans for her future. She let them know that she was looking into another job, and they promptly fired her and hired a replacement.



              Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint: they needed someone they could depend on to run the project, and that person would need some time to be brought up to speed beforehand, so moving quickly was in their best interests.



              The person they fired, however, ended up not getting the new job and was completely screwed by her attempt to be nice. Don't put the needs of the business before your own.



              Note that the employer was a non-profit, a group you might expect to be extra nice towards their employees. However they still had to consider their mission and what they needed to fulfill it, so...






              share|improve this answer


















              • 96




                Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:01






              • 30




                "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
                – Sleeper Smith
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:40






              • 3




                I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
                – gerrit
                Feb 8 '13 at 9:03






              • 7




                In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
                – Keith
                Feb 8 '13 at 13:30






              • 3




                @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
                – hlovdal
                Feb 8 '13 at 20:07














              up vote
              126
              down vote













              Please don't tell them about your job search. I have witnessed this backfire. Just a few years ago, a person I knew worked for a small organization (a non-profit) which had grand plans for her future. She let them know that she was looking into another job, and they promptly fired her and hired a replacement.



              Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint: they needed someone they could depend on to run the project, and that person would need some time to be brought up to speed beforehand, so moving quickly was in their best interests.



              The person they fired, however, ended up not getting the new job and was completely screwed by her attempt to be nice. Don't put the needs of the business before your own.



              Note that the employer was a non-profit, a group you might expect to be extra nice towards their employees. However they still had to consider their mission and what they needed to fulfill it, so...






              share|improve this answer


















              • 96




                Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:01






              • 30




                "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
                – Sleeper Smith
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:40






              • 3




                I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
                – gerrit
                Feb 8 '13 at 9:03






              • 7




                In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
                – Keith
                Feb 8 '13 at 13:30






              • 3




                @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
                – hlovdal
                Feb 8 '13 at 20:07












              up vote
              126
              down vote










              up vote
              126
              down vote









              Please don't tell them about your job search. I have witnessed this backfire. Just a few years ago, a person I knew worked for a small organization (a non-profit) which had grand plans for her future. She let them know that she was looking into another job, and they promptly fired her and hired a replacement.



              Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint: they needed someone they could depend on to run the project, and that person would need some time to be brought up to speed beforehand, so moving quickly was in their best interests.



              The person they fired, however, ended up not getting the new job and was completely screwed by her attempt to be nice. Don't put the needs of the business before your own.



              Note that the employer was a non-profit, a group you might expect to be extra nice towards their employees. However they still had to consider their mission and what they needed to fulfill it, so...






              share|improve this answer














              Please don't tell them about your job search. I have witnessed this backfire. Just a few years ago, a person I knew worked for a small organization (a non-profit) which had grand plans for her future. She let them know that she was looking into another job, and they promptly fired her and hired a replacement.



              Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint: they needed someone they could depend on to run the project, and that person would need some time to be brought up to speed beforehand, so moving quickly was in their best interests.



              The person they fired, however, ended up not getting the new job and was completely screwed by her attempt to be nice. Don't put the needs of the business before your own.



              Note that the employer was a non-profit, a group you might expect to be extra nice towards their employees. However they still had to consider their mission and what they needed to fulfill it, so...







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Jun 16 '15 at 10:23









              sleske

              9,79633655




              9,79633655










              answered Feb 7 '13 at 22:58









              Maltiriel

              929156




              929156







              • 96




                Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:01






              • 30




                "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
                – Sleeper Smith
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:40






              • 3




                I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
                – gerrit
                Feb 8 '13 at 9:03






              • 7




                In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
                – Keith
                Feb 8 '13 at 13:30






              • 3




                @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
                – hlovdal
                Feb 8 '13 at 20:07












              • 96




                Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:01






              • 30




                "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
                – Sleeper Smith
                Feb 8 '13 at 1:40






              • 3




                I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
                – gerrit
                Feb 8 '13 at 9:03






              • 7




                In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
                – Keith
                Feb 8 '13 at 13:30






              • 3




                @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
                – hlovdal
                Feb 8 '13 at 20:07







              96




              96




              Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
              – Matthew Azkimov
              Feb 8 '13 at 1:01




              Don't put the needs of the business before your own.. +1
              – Matthew Azkimov
              Feb 8 '13 at 1:01




              30




              30




              "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
              – Sleeper Smith
              Feb 8 '13 at 1:40




              "Their rationale makes perfect sense from a business standpoint" <- no it doesn't. If you crunch the numbers, sure you are maximising the profit. But get this. You f*** over your employees, they will f*** you over. What goes around comes around.
              – Sleeper Smith
              Feb 8 '13 at 1:40




              3




              3




              I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
              – gerrit
              Feb 8 '13 at 9:03




              I suspect the answer may depend on the legislation of the country. Some countries have much stronger protection against being fired than others.
              – gerrit
              Feb 8 '13 at 9:03




              7




              7




              In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
              – Keith
              Feb 8 '13 at 13:30




              In the UK or EU this would be easy grounds for unfair dismissal - you could take them to the cleaners in count. However they will still sideline you until there's a defensible reason to make you redundant, which often takes years.
              – Keith
              Feb 8 '13 at 13:30




              3




              3




              @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
              – hlovdal
              Feb 8 '13 at 20:07




              @Jeremiah: Some companies actually do tell you well in advance of even deciding who will be laid off that there will be a reduction in the work force. My previous employer did, workplace.stackexchange.com/a/6905/513. I am saddened this apparent mutual "screw the employer/employee" distrust that seem to be the norm in USA.
              – hlovdal
              Feb 8 '13 at 20:07












              up vote
              59
              down vote













              No. It's the responsibility of the company to take whatever steps they deem necessary to ensure that one person doesn't become so critical that the company can't function without him.



              That said, if you are a critical resource, have you had a conversation with your boss about whatever is causing you to look for another position to determine whether there is something they can do to make you happier in your current position? From a negotiating standpoint, your leverage probably won't ever be higher than it is now. And from the company's standpoint, it is likely to be far more efficient to give you whatever you need to be happy rather than trying to replace you in the middle of the project.






              share|improve this answer
















              • 3




                yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
                – zipquincy
                Feb 7 '13 at 23:29







              • 26




                Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 0:59











              • @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
                – gbjbaanb
                Aug 29 '14 at 14:57














              up vote
              59
              down vote













              No. It's the responsibility of the company to take whatever steps they deem necessary to ensure that one person doesn't become so critical that the company can't function without him.



              That said, if you are a critical resource, have you had a conversation with your boss about whatever is causing you to look for another position to determine whether there is something they can do to make you happier in your current position? From a negotiating standpoint, your leverage probably won't ever be higher than it is now. And from the company's standpoint, it is likely to be far more efficient to give you whatever you need to be happy rather than trying to replace you in the middle of the project.






              share|improve this answer
















              • 3




                yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
                – zipquincy
                Feb 7 '13 at 23:29







              • 26




                Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 0:59











              • @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
                – gbjbaanb
                Aug 29 '14 at 14:57












              up vote
              59
              down vote










              up vote
              59
              down vote









              No. It's the responsibility of the company to take whatever steps they deem necessary to ensure that one person doesn't become so critical that the company can't function without him.



              That said, if you are a critical resource, have you had a conversation with your boss about whatever is causing you to look for another position to determine whether there is something they can do to make you happier in your current position? From a negotiating standpoint, your leverage probably won't ever be higher than it is now. And from the company's standpoint, it is likely to be far more efficient to give you whatever you need to be happy rather than trying to replace you in the middle of the project.






              share|improve this answer












              No. It's the responsibility of the company to take whatever steps they deem necessary to ensure that one person doesn't become so critical that the company can't function without him.



              That said, if you are a critical resource, have you had a conversation with your boss about whatever is causing you to look for another position to determine whether there is something they can do to make you happier in your current position? From a negotiating standpoint, your leverage probably won't ever be higher than it is now. And from the company's standpoint, it is likely to be far more efficient to give you whatever you need to be happy rather than trying to replace you in the middle of the project.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Feb 7 '13 at 21:48









              Justin Cave

              34.9k9112136




              34.9k9112136







              • 3




                yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
                – zipquincy
                Feb 7 '13 at 23:29







              • 26




                Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 0:59











              • @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
                – gbjbaanb
                Aug 29 '14 at 14:57












              • 3




                yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
                – zipquincy
                Feb 7 '13 at 23:29







              • 26




                Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
                – Matthew Azkimov
                Feb 8 '13 at 0:59











              • @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
                – gbjbaanb
                Aug 29 '14 at 14:57







              3




              3




              yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
              – zipquincy
              Feb 7 '13 at 23:29





              yes, we have conversed many times over years. the thing is the only thing that would make me stay at this point is if the company started making more money and doing more exciting things, so that i had room to grow. sadly they are headed exactly the opposite direction, in ways i have no control or influence in apparently, despite years of trying....
              – zipquincy
              Feb 7 '13 at 23:29





              26




              26




              Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
              – Matthew Azkimov
              Feb 8 '13 at 0:59





              Years?. Stop wasting your time. It's not your company. Own your life and future. Be polite and let the things flow.
              – Matthew Azkimov
              Feb 8 '13 at 0:59













              @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
              – gbjbaanb
              Aug 29 '14 at 14:57




              @zipquincy "I've been in meetings all week with my small company's owners, planning a big project" - sounds pretty exciting to me. The grass always looks greener on the other hill.
              – gbjbaanb
              Aug 29 '14 at 14:57










              up vote
              26
              down vote













              No.



              Look at it the other way round. If they knew that you were planning a big life change (marriage, children, etc.), would that stop them making you redundant or reducing your hours if they needed to cut back to keep the company afloat?



              I'm pretty sure the answer would be that they wouldn't. The first you would hear about it would be when they called you in to tell you that starting next month you were only on 20 hours a week (or whatever).



              Keep working as though you are going to stay with the company - after all you might have to if you can't find another job. When you do find another job give as much notice as you can, but don't jeopardise the new job by trying to "be kind" to your current employer.



              You employer should really have plans or contingency in place to deal with the sudden loss of "key" employees for what ever reason. The fact that most don't doesn't make it your responsibility to mitigate their problem.






              share|improve this answer


























                up vote
                26
                down vote













                No.



                Look at it the other way round. If they knew that you were planning a big life change (marriage, children, etc.), would that stop them making you redundant or reducing your hours if they needed to cut back to keep the company afloat?



                I'm pretty sure the answer would be that they wouldn't. The first you would hear about it would be when they called you in to tell you that starting next month you were only on 20 hours a week (or whatever).



                Keep working as though you are going to stay with the company - after all you might have to if you can't find another job. When you do find another job give as much notice as you can, but don't jeopardise the new job by trying to "be kind" to your current employer.



                You employer should really have plans or contingency in place to deal with the sudden loss of "key" employees for what ever reason. The fact that most don't doesn't make it your responsibility to mitigate their problem.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  26
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  26
                  down vote









                  No.



                  Look at it the other way round. If they knew that you were planning a big life change (marriage, children, etc.), would that stop them making you redundant or reducing your hours if they needed to cut back to keep the company afloat?



                  I'm pretty sure the answer would be that they wouldn't. The first you would hear about it would be when they called you in to tell you that starting next month you were only on 20 hours a week (or whatever).



                  Keep working as though you are going to stay with the company - after all you might have to if you can't find another job. When you do find another job give as much notice as you can, but don't jeopardise the new job by trying to "be kind" to your current employer.



                  You employer should really have plans or contingency in place to deal with the sudden loss of "key" employees for what ever reason. The fact that most don't doesn't make it your responsibility to mitigate their problem.






                  share|improve this answer














                  No.



                  Look at it the other way round. If they knew that you were planning a big life change (marriage, children, etc.), would that stop them making you redundant or reducing your hours if they needed to cut back to keep the company afloat?



                  I'm pretty sure the answer would be that they wouldn't. The first you would hear about it would be when they called you in to tell you that starting next month you were only on 20 hours a week (or whatever).



                  Keep working as though you are going to stay with the company - after all you might have to if you can't find another job. When you do find another job give as much notice as you can, but don't jeopardise the new job by trying to "be kind" to your current employer.



                  You employer should really have plans or contingency in place to deal with the sudden loss of "key" employees for what ever reason. The fact that most don't doesn't make it your responsibility to mitigate their problem.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Aug 5 '15 at 8:11

























                  answered Feb 7 '13 at 21:49









                  ChrisF

                  8,56423957




                  8,56423957




















                      up vote
                      20
                      down vote













                      Don't tell them that you're looking for a new job.



                      Tell them the reasons why you feel the need to look.



                      Tell them what you're unhappy with, what could be better and what you would really like to see change.



                      Set up a meeting specifically about this or put it in writing. Make sure that they can't ignore that you're unhappy with the status quo.



                      This makes the discussion about the things that might actually keep you, and avoids getting into ultimatums (which you never want to make in work) or battles of egos. You want to give them a way to 'win' without losing face.



                      Then if they don't fix what you asked them to then when you find a new job you're not "leaving them in the lurch" because you already told them what they needed to do better.



                      Note that all that's assuming that they could make changes that will keep you. If you're emigrating or something (though many companies could cope with very remote workers better than they realise) then just tell them and offer to help succession planning - most replacements take significantly longer to find and train than most notice periods.






                      share|improve this answer


















                      • 2




                        Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
                        – Rafael Emshoff
                        Jan 29 '14 at 12:52















                      up vote
                      20
                      down vote













                      Don't tell them that you're looking for a new job.



                      Tell them the reasons why you feel the need to look.



                      Tell them what you're unhappy with, what could be better and what you would really like to see change.



                      Set up a meeting specifically about this or put it in writing. Make sure that they can't ignore that you're unhappy with the status quo.



                      This makes the discussion about the things that might actually keep you, and avoids getting into ultimatums (which you never want to make in work) or battles of egos. You want to give them a way to 'win' without losing face.



                      Then if they don't fix what you asked them to then when you find a new job you're not "leaving them in the lurch" because you already told them what they needed to do better.



                      Note that all that's assuming that they could make changes that will keep you. If you're emigrating or something (though many companies could cope with very remote workers better than they realise) then just tell them and offer to help succession planning - most replacements take significantly longer to find and train than most notice periods.






                      share|improve this answer


















                      • 2




                        Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
                        – Rafael Emshoff
                        Jan 29 '14 at 12:52













                      up vote
                      20
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      20
                      down vote









                      Don't tell them that you're looking for a new job.



                      Tell them the reasons why you feel the need to look.



                      Tell them what you're unhappy with, what could be better and what you would really like to see change.



                      Set up a meeting specifically about this or put it in writing. Make sure that they can't ignore that you're unhappy with the status quo.



                      This makes the discussion about the things that might actually keep you, and avoids getting into ultimatums (which you never want to make in work) or battles of egos. You want to give them a way to 'win' without losing face.



                      Then if they don't fix what you asked them to then when you find a new job you're not "leaving them in the lurch" because you already told them what they needed to do better.



                      Note that all that's assuming that they could make changes that will keep you. If you're emigrating or something (though many companies could cope with very remote workers better than they realise) then just tell them and offer to help succession planning - most replacements take significantly longer to find and train than most notice periods.






                      share|improve this answer














                      Don't tell them that you're looking for a new job.



                      Tell them the reasons why you feel the need to look.



                      Tell them what you're unhappy with, what could be better and what you would really like to see change.



                      Set up a meeting specifically about this or put it in writing. Make sure that they can't ignore that you're unhappy with the status quo.



                      This makes the discussion about the things that might actually keep you, and avoids getting into ultimatums (which you never want to make in work) or battles of egos. You want to give them a way to 'win' without losing face.



                      Then if they don't fix what you asked them to then when you find a new job you're not "leaving them in the lurch" because you already told them what they needed to do better.



                      Note that all that's assuming that they could make changes that will keep you. If you're emigrating or something (though many companies could cope with very remote workers better than they realise) then just tell them and offer to help succession planning - most replacements take significantly longer to find and train than most notice periods.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Aug 5 '15 at 8:13









                      ChrisF

                      8,56423957




                      8,56423957










                      answered Feb 8 '13 at 9:10









                      Keith

                      51949




                      51949







                      • 2




                        Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
                        – Rafael Emshoff
                        Jan 29 '14 at 12:52













                      • 2




                        Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
                        – Rafael Emshoff
                        Jan 29 '14 at 12:52








                      2




                      2




                      Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
                      – Rafael Emshoff
                      Jan 29 '14 at 12:52





                      Good Idea to focus on the REASON why you are looking for a new job, and try to get those reasons fixed in your current job. Then at least if you still decide to change to a new job, your reasons will be familiar to the team, and it will be their responsibility to rationalize any awkward feelings should they come up.
                      – Rafael Emshoff
                      Jan 29 '14 at 12:52











                      up vote
                      13
                      down vote













                      If this were a larger company, the "it's their problem, not yours" approach would be reasonable; it's their responsibility to plan for things like this. But in a small company, particularly a close-knit one, this can be hard -- you protect yourself and then surprise them with your resignation, they feel blindsided, you burn bridges... awkward.



                      But telling them you're looking also isn't good; you don't know what your timeline is, things could change and you end up staying, but they'll always be suspicious.



                      There are two things that seem reasonble to me (from the perspective of someone who's worked at several small companies and seen the close-knit dynamic at play):



                      1. As Justin said, you should be discussing with them the things that are making you want to look elsewhere. Maybe you can address that and not have to leave.


                      2. Approach the general problem: "Boss, with all the exciting work we're doing that seems to depend on specific people, I'm worried about what would happen if any of us got hit by a bus. What can we do about that?" Sure, if it's later revealed that you knew that bus's trajectory they may be unhappy, but you'll have at least tried to plan for it. That'll count for something if any of them are ever asked about you -- and if you work in a small professional circle, that's something to be mindful of.






                      share|improve this answer






















                      • The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
                        – Matthew Azkimov
                        Feb 8 '13 at 1:07










                      • I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
                        – Alex
                        Feb 8 '13 at 14:46














                      up vote
                      13
                      down vote













                      If this were a larger company, the "it's their problem, not yours" approach would be reasonable; it's their responsibility to plan for things like this. But in a small company, particularly a close-knit one, this can be hard -- you protect yourself and then surprise them with your resignation, they feel blindsided, you burn bridges... awkward.



                      But telling them you're looking also isn't good; you don't know what your timeline is, things could change and you end up staying, but they'll always be suspicious.



                      There are two things that seem reasonble to me (from the perspective of someone who's worked at several small companies and seen the close-knit dynamic at play):



                      1. As Justin said, you should be discussing with them the things that are making you want to look elsewhere. Maybe you can address that and not have to leave.


                      2. Approach the general problem: "Boss, with all the exciting work we're doing that seems to depend on specific people, I'm worried about what would happen if any of us got hit by a bus. What can we do about that?" Sure, if it's later revealed that you knew that bus's trajectory they may be unhappy, but you'll have at least tried to plan for it. That'll count for something if any of them are ever asked about you -- and if you work in a small professional circle, that's something to be mindful of.






                      share|improve this answer






















                      • The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
                        – Matthew Azkimov
                        Feb 8 '13 at 1:07










                      • I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
                        – Alex
                        Feb 8 '13 at 14:46












                      up vote
                      13
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      13
                      down vote









                      If this were a larger company, the "it's their problem, not yours" approach would be reasonable; it's their responsibility to plan for things like this. But in a small company, particularly a close-knit one, this can be hard -- you protect yourself and then surprise them with your resignation, they feel blindsided, you burn bridges... awkward.



                      But telling them you're looking also isn't good; you don't know what your timeline is, things could change and you end up staying, but they'll always be suspicious.



                      There are two things that seem reasonble to me (from the perspective of someone who's worked at several small companies and seen the close-knit dynamic at play):



                      1. As Justin said, you should be discussing with them the things that are making you want to look elsewhere. Maybe you can address that and not have to leave.


                      2. Approach the general problem: "Boss, with all the exciting work we're doing that seems to depend on specific people, I'm worried about what would happen if any of us got hit by a bus. What can we do about that?" Sure, if it's later revealed that you knew that bus's trajectory they may be unhappy, but you'll have at least tried to plan for it. That'll count for something if any of them are ever asked about you -- and if you work in a small professional circle, that's something to be mindful of.






                      share|improve this answer














                      If this were a larger company, the "it's their problem, not yours" approach would be reasonable; it's their responsibility to plan for things like this. But in a small company, particularly a close-knit one, this can be hard -- you protect yourself and then surprise them with your resignation, they feel blindsided, you burn bridges... awkward.



                      But telling them you're looking also isn't good; you don't know what your timeline is, things could change and you end up staying, but they'll always be suspicious.



                      There are two things that seem reasonble to me (from the perspective of someone who's worked at several small companies and seen the close-knit dynamic at play):



                      1. As Justin said, you should be discussing with them the things that are making you want to look elsewhere. Maybe you can address that and not have to leave.


                      2. Approach the general problem: "Boss, with all the exciting work we're doing that seems to depend on specific people, I'm worried about what would happen if any of us got hit by a bus. What can we do about that?" Sure, if it's later revealed that you knew that bus's trajectory they may be unhappy, but you'll have at least tried to plan for it. That'll count for something if any of them are ever asked about you -- and if you work in a small professional circle, that's something to be mindful of.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48









                      Community♦

                      1




                      1










                      answered Feb 7 '13 at 22:10









                      Monica Cellio♦

                      43.7k17114191




                      43.7k17114191











                      • The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
                        – Matthew Azkimov
                        Feb 8 '13 at 1:07










                      • I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
                        – Alex
                        Feb 8 '13 at 14:46
















                      • The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
                        – Matthew Azkimov
                        Feb 8 '13 at 1:07










                      • I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
                        – Alex
                        Feb 8 '13 at 14:46















                      The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
                      – Matthew Azkimov
                      Feb 8 '13 at 1:07




                      The whole idea of earning more money is gaining responsibility. Why would someone say: "Please, I'm interested in YOUR company (not mine huh), don't depend on critical resources". And guess who is saying that?, a critical resource. Suspicious... (or nuts!)
                      – Matthew Azkimov
                      Feb 8 '13 at 1:07












                      I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
                      – Alex
                      Feb 8 '13 at 14:46




                      I would recommend against this. The employer will have to make a decision of either replacing the OP or slowing down production - both negatives, and OP won't gain anything either. It's a lose lose. Just do your best for now, and make sure everything can be easily transitioned to next person.
                      – Alex
                      Feb 8 '13 at 14:46










                      up vote
                      9
                      down vote













                      Wow. As a business owner I'm surprised at the apparent absence of a sense of personal integrity in these answers. Should the OP tell his employer he's on his way out the door? Probably not. Should he have a "not my problem" attitude toward the company that has fed his family for the past however many years? Absolutely not.



                      Small businesses don't have the luxury of abundant resources that allow for backups to key employees. We rely on the loyalty and integrity of our employees to conduct themselves in a manner that balances the interest of the company with their personal interests. That means that if you're unhappy and considering leaving, talk to your employer about your concerns.



                      It also means that if you end up leaving, especially if it's not due to problems in the workplace (i.e. you got the proverbial offer you couldn't refuse), you structure your departure in such a way as not to leave your employer in a lurch. Maybe that's a transition out over four to six weeks, maybe it's offering your services after hours as a contractor for a period of time. In either case, the right thing to do is to offer everything in your power to minimize the disruption of your departure.



                      You should consider that if this is indeed a small company that has challenges finding talent, your abrupt departure could endanger the organization and your current colleagues.






                      share|improve this answer
















                      • 2




                        How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 22 '15 at 20:48










                      • In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
                        – Josh Anderson
                        Sep 23 '15 at 11:25






                      • 3




                        I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 24 '15 at 21:05














                      up vote
                      9
                      down vote













                      Wow. As a business owner I'm surprised at the apparent absence of a sense of personal integrity in these answers. Should the OP tell his employer he's on his way out the door? Probably not. Should he have a "not my problem" attitude toward the company that has fed his family for the past however many years? Absolutely not.



                      Small businesses don't have the luxury of abundant resources that allow for backups to key employees. We rely on the loyalty and integrity of our employees to conduct themselves in a manner that balances the interest of the company with their personal interests. That means that if you're unhappy and considering leaving, talk to your employer about your concerns.



                      It also means that if you end up leaving, especially if it's not due to problems in the workplace (i.e. you got the proverbial offer you couldn't refuse), you structure your departure in such a way as not to leave your employer in a lurch. Maybe that's a transition out over four to six weeks, maybe it's offering your services after hours as a contractor for a period of time. In either case, the right thing to do is to offer everything in your power to minimize the disruption of your departure.



                      You should consider that if this is indeed a small company that has challenges finding talent, your abrupt departure could endanger the organization and your current colleagues.






                      share|improve this answer
















                      • 2




                        How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 22 '15 at 20:48










                      • In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
                        – Josh Anderson
                        Sep 23 '15 at 11:25






                      • 3




                        I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 24 '15 at 21:05












                      up vote
                      9
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      9
                      down vote









                      Wow. As a business owner I'm surprised at the apparent absence of a sense of personal integrity in these answers. Should the OP tell his employer he's on his way out the door? Probably not. Should he have a "not my problem" attitude toward the company that has fed his family for the past however many years? Absolutely not.



                      Small businesses don't have the luxury of abundant resources that allow for backups to key employees. We rely on the loyalty and integrity of our employees to conduct themselves in a manner that balances the interest of the company with their personal interests. That means that if you're unhappy and considering leaving, talk to your employer about your concerns.



                      It also means that if you end up leaving, especially if it's not due to problems in the workplace (i.e. you got the proverbial offer you couldn't refuse), you structure your departure in such a way as not to leave your employer in a lurch. Maybe that's a transition out over four to six weeks, maybe it's offering your services after hours as a contractor for a period of time. In either case, the right thing to do is to offer everything in your power to minimize the disruption of your departure.



                      You should consider that if this is indeed a small company that has challenges finding talent, your abrupt departure could endanger the organization and your current colleagues.






                      share|improve this answer












                      Wow. As a business owner I'm surprised at the apparent absence of a sense of personal integrity in these answers. Should the OP tell his employer he's on his way out the door? Probably not. Should he have a "not my problem" attitude toward the company that has fed his family for the past however many years? Absolutely not.



                      Small businesses don't have the luxury of abundant resources that allow for backups to key employees. We rely on the loyalty and integrity of our employees to conduct themselves in a manner that balances the interest of the company with their personal interests. That means that if you're unhappy and considering leaving, talk to your employer about your concerns.



                      It also means that if you end up leaving, especially if it's not due to problems in the workplace (i.e. you got the proverbial offer you couldn't refuse), you structure your departure in such a way as not to leave your employer in a lurch. Maybe that's a transition out over four to six weeks, maybe it's offering your services after hours as a contractor for a period of time. In either case, the right thing to do is to offer everything in your power to minimize the disruption of your departure.



                      You should consider that if this is indeed a small company that has challenges finding talent, your abrupt departure could endanger the organization and your current colleagues.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Feb 10 '13 at 19:34









                      Josh Anderson

                      1912




                      1912







                      • 2




                        How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 22 '15 at 20:48










                      • In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
                        – Josh Anderson
                        Sep 23 '15 at 11:25






                      • 3




                        I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 24 '15 at 21:05












                      • 2




                        How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 22 '15 at 20:48










                      • In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
                        – Josh Anderson
                        Sep 23 '15 at 11:25






                      • 3




                        I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
                        – BryanH
                        Sep 24 '15 at 21:05







                      2




                      2




                      How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
                      – BryanH
                      Sep 22 '15 at 20:48




                      How much company equity do your employees own? How much say do they have in management decisions? What are the terms of your employment contracts (in terms of notice from either party)? If the answers are '0%', 'none' and 'we don't have contracts', then you have no loyalty to your employees and thus, they have no obligation to have loyalty to you.
                      – BryanH
                      Sep 22 '15 at 20:48












                      In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
                      – Josh Anderson
                      Sep 23 '15 at 11:25




                      In our case, the answers would be "some have some" and while it's an at-will work state, we do have contracts and have never released someone without severance except in cases of misconduct. And note that offering a severance is a good corollary for what my answer suggests -- providing assistance so the other party isn't left in a complete lurch. I can't help but feel that this comment is indicative of why so many workplaces have an us-against-them culture. That's not my company's culture.
                      – Josh Anderson
                      Sep 23 '15 at 11:25




                      3




                      3




                      I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
                      – BryanH
                      Sep 24 '15 at 21:05




                      I can appreciate your position. Unfortunately, the employee-employer 'contract' (agree to work here for your entire career and we'll take care of you by providing a pension and not laying you off to bump the stock a few points) has been broken permanently. The the nail in the coffin for me was in '96 when AT&T laid off 40,000 employees. That's when I realized there was no such thing as job security--especially working in at-will states--so the only one to look out for me was...me.
                      – BryanH
                      Sep 24 '15 at 21:05










                      up vote
                      5
                      down vote













                      Telling them now, invites them to worry about your commitment. That means that they will start thinking of you as a short timer.



                      When a decent offer comes in then decide if you want to switch or not. That decent offer could be in a day. a month or a year. If it a perfect offer take it, if not you can reject it if the situation with your current company is good.



                      Now would be the time to discuss your future with the company. Ask what happens in a year if the project is a success. Ask what success means. Ask if success will result in raise, promotion, or some other benefit. Though they generally won't put this in writing it will let you know what they are willing to discuss, and it will let them know that you are expecting some reward.



                      As you move forward you can add into your calculus the promise of the reward for a job well done.






                      share|improve this answer
























                        up vote
                        5
                        down vote













                        Telling them now, invites them to worry about your commitment. That means that they will start thinking of you as a short timer.



                        When a decent offer comes in then decide if you want to switch or not. That decent offer could be in a day. a month or a year. If it a perfect offer take it, if not you can reject it if the situation with your current company is good.



                        Now would be the time to discuss your future with the company. Ask what happens in a year if the project is a success. Ask what success means. Ask if success will result in raise, promotion, or some other benefit. Though they generally won't put this in writing it will let you know what they are willing to discuss, and it will let them know that you are expecting some reward.



                        As you move forward you can add into your calculus the promise of the reward for a job well done.






                        share|improve this answer






















                          up vote
                          5
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          5
                          down vote









                          Telling them now, invites them to worry about your commitment. That means that they will start thinking of you as a short timer.



                          When a decent offer comes in then decide if you want to switch or not. That decent offer could be in a day. a month or a year. If it a perfect offer take it, if not you can reject it if the situation with your current company is good.



                          Now would be the time to discuss your future with the company. Ask what happens in a year if the project is a success. Ask what success means. Ask if success will result in raise, promotion, or some other benefit. Though they generally won't put this in writing it will let you know what they are willing to discuss, and it will let them know that you are expecting some reward.



                          As you move forward you can add into your calculus the promise of the reward for a job well done.






                          share|improve this answer












                          Telling them now, invites them to worry about your commitment. That means that they will start thinking of you as a short timer.



                          When a decent offer comes in then decide if you want to switch or not. That decent offer could be in a day. a month or a year. If it a perfect offer take it, if not you can reject it if the situation with your current company is good.



                          Now would be the time to discuss your future with the company. Ask what happens in a year if the project is a success. Ask what success means. Ask if success will result in raise, promotion, or some other benefit. Though they generally won't put this in writing it will let you know what they are willing to discuss, and it will let them know that you are expecting some reward.



                          As you move forward you can add into your calculus the promise of the reward for a job well done.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Feb 7 '13 at 21:58









                          mhoran_psprep

                          40.3k463144




                          40.3k463144




















                              up vote
                              4
                              down vote













                              No. As long as you are doing the job you are paid to do, and don't have something else lined up, you don't have any obligation to tell them about the possibility of your departure.



                              While it is great that you want to do what is best for them, always remember that the employer/employee relationship is primarily a business relationship, not a personal relationship. You are not obligated to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of your employer.



                              When the time comes to leave, be as helpful as you can be, and don't feel guilty. If your employers express any outrage or feelings of betrayal, that would be unprofessional of them.



                              FWIW, when I quit my first job, I thought I was critical to their success and that they would have a hard time without me. Somehow, they survived.






                              share|improve this answer


























                                up vote
                                4
                                down vote













                                No. As long as you are doing the job you are paid to do, and don't have something else lined up, you don't have any obligation to tell them about the possibility of your departure.



                                While it is great that you want to do what is best for them, always remember that the employer/employee relationship is primarily a business relationship, not a personal relationship. You are not obligated to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of your employer.



                                When the time comes to leave, be as helpful as you can be, and don't feel guilty. If your employers express any outrage or feelings of betrayal, that would be unprofessional of them.



                                FWIW, when I quit my first job, I thought I was critical to their success and that they would have a hard time without me. Somehow, they survived.






                                share|improve this answer
























                                  up vote
                                  4
                                  down vote










                                  up vote
                                  4
                                  down vote









                                  No. As long as you are doing the job you are paid to do, and don't have something else lined up, you don't have any obligation to tell them about the possibility of your departure.



                                  While it is great that you want to do what is best for them, always remember that the employer/employee relationship is primarily a business relationship, not a personal relationship. You are not obligated to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of your employer.



                                  When the time comes to leave, be as helpful as you can be, and don't feel guilty. If your employers express any outrage or feelings of betrayal, that would be unprofessional of them.



                                  FWIW, when I quit my first job, I thought I was critical to their success and that they would have a hard time without me. Somehow, they survived.






                                  share|improve this answer














                                  No. As long as you are doing the job you are paid to do, and don't have something else lined up, you don't have any obligation to tell them about the possibility of your departure.



                                  While it is great that you want to do what is best for them, always remember that the employer/employee relationship is primarily a business relationship, not a personal relationship. You are not obligated to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of your employer.



                                  When the time comes to leave, be as helpful as you can be, and don't feel guilty. If your employers express any outrage or feelings of betrayal, that would be unprofessional of them.



                                  FWIW, when I quit my first job, I thought I was critical to their success and that they would have a hard time without me. Somehow, they survived.







                                  share|improve this answer














                                  share|improve this answer



                                  share|improve this answer








                                  edited Feb 8 '13 at 14:50

























                                  answered Feb 8 '13 at 14:43









                                  Kristopher Johnson

                                  1415




                                  1415




















                                      up vote
                                      4
                                      down vote













                                      TLDR; they should already know that you are probably looking without you having to explicitly state it.



                                      If you're unhappy with your current job then they should know that by now. If you've already expressed what you are looking for in a job, and how you feel your current position doesn't fulfill that need, then they know you are dissatisfied with your current position. If you feel you are not progressing towards what you would like out of your job they should know that by now.



                                      If they don't know that by now, then you haven't communicated clearly enough with your employers to try to make the most of your current employment. Instead of simply moving on to try to "fix it" yourself, you need to make it clear what the issue is first. If they don't know the problem, they can't solve it (or even try).



                                      If they DO know the issues you have with your current employment, and they haven't been able to address it, then they know (at least in the back of their minds) that they are at risk of losing you.



                                      By explicitly stating that you are looking for another job in essence expresses to them, that you've completely given up on reaching your goals at their company. As a result, they will give up on you and you then have no other choice but to find another job.






                                      share|improve this answer


























                                        up vote
                                        4
                                        down vote













                                        TLDR; they should already know that you are probably looking without you having to explicitly state it.



                                        If you're unhappy with your current job then they should know that by now. If you've already expressed what you are looking for in a job, and how you feel your current position doesn't fulfill that need, then they know you are dissatisfied with your current position. If you feel you are not progressing towards what you would like out of your job they should know that by now.



                                        If they don't know that by now, then you haven't communicated clearly enough with your employers to try to make the most of your current employment. Instead of simply moving on to try to "fix it" yourself, you need to make it clear what the issue is first. If they don't know the problem, they can't solve it (or even try).



                                        If they DO know the issues you have with your current employment, and they haven't been able to address it, then they know (at least in the back of their minds) that they are at risk of losing you.



                                        By explicitly stating that you are looking for another job in essence expresses to them, that you've completely given up on reaching your goals at their company. As a result, they will give up on you and you then have no other choice but to find another job.






                                        share|improve this answer
























                                          up vote
                                          4
                                          down vote










                                          up vote
                                          4
                                          down vote









                                          TLDR; they should already know that you are probably looking without you having to explicitly state it.



                                          If you're unhappy with your current job then they should know that by now. If you've already expressed what you are looking for in a job, and how you feel your current position doesn't fulfill that need, then they know you are dissatisfied with your current position. If you feel you are not progressing towards what you would like out of your job they should know that by now.



                                          If they don't know that by now, then you haven't communicated clearly enough with your employers to try to make the most of your current employment. Instead of simply moving on to try to "fix it" yourself, you need to make it clear what the issue is first. If they don't know the problem, they can't solve it (or even try).



                                          If they DO know the issues you have with your current employment, and they haven't been able to address it, then they know (at least in the back of their minds) that they are at risk of losing you.



                                          By explicitly stating that you are looking for another job in essence expresses to them, that you've completely given up on reaching your goals at their company. As a result, they will give up on you and you then have no other choice but to find another job.






                                          share|improve this answer














                                          TLDR; they should already know that you are probably looking without you having to explicitly state it.



                                          If you're unhappy with your current job then they should know that by now. If you've already expressed what you are looking for in a job, and how you feel your current position doesn't fulfill that need, then they know you are dissatisfied with your current position. If you feel you are not progressing towards what you would like out of your job they should know that by now.



                                          If they don't know that by now, then you haven't communicated clearly enough with your employers to try to make the most of your current employment. Instead of simply moving on to try to "fix it" yourself, you need to make it clear what the issue is first. If they don't know the problem, they can't solve it (or even try).



                                          If they DO know the issues you have with your current employment, and they haven't been able to address it, then they know (at least in the back of their minds) that they are at risk of losing you.



                                          By explicitly stating that you are looking for another job in essence expresses to them, that you've completely given up on reaching your goals at their company. As a result, they will give up on you and you then have no other choice but to find another job.







                                          share|improve this answer














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                                          edited Feb 8 '13 at 16:53









                                          gnat

                                          3,23273066




                                          3,23273066










                                          answered Feb 8 '13 at 16:38









                                          n00b

                                          34428




                                          34428




















                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote













                                              What about approaching it from a different direction? Fulfill both your own need to protect your interests and look out for your current employers future operations without you by suggesting that such a large project should not be so dependent on a single person. Someone commented on the 'bus factor'....this is along those lines.



                                              Suggest that another person be hired/contracted for that project to help with engineering problems, share workload, maybe ship the new product faster? Unless it's a /really/ small company or in a hard financial situation, I would assume they could afford to find a part time contractor (this sort of describes what I do) who could devote enough time to be familiar with the project, that when you leave, you could comfortably turn the work over to them without having to train someone from scratch in the 2 weeks/1 month/whatever you notice was for.



                                              Another possibility, are you in an area where you could find an intern who might just want the experience and to be involved in a meaningful project? This would help your company with potentially lower financial investment, and if the intern worked out, they could have potentially already found their "new hire" after you leave, and it helps the intern gain experience.






                                              share|improve this answer
























                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote













                                                What about approaching it from a different direction? Fulfill both your own need to protect your interests and look out for your current employers future operations without you by suggesting that such a large project should not be so dependent on a single person. Someone commented on the 'bus factor'....this is along those lines.



                                                Suggest that another person be hired/contracted for that project to help with engineering problems, share workload, maybe ship the new product faster? Unless it's a /really/ small company or in a hard financial situation, I would assume they could afford to find a part time contractor (this sort of describes what I do) who could devote enough time to be familiar with the project, that when you leave, you could comfortably turn the work over to them without having to train someone from scratch in the 2 weeks/1 month/whatever you notice was for.



                                                Another possibility, are you in an area where you could find an intern who might just want the experience and to be involved in a meaningful project? This would help your company with potentially lower financial investment, and if the intern worked out, they could have potentially already found their "new hire" after you leave, and it helps the intern gain experience.






                                                share|improve this answer






















                                                  up vote
                                                  0
                                                  down vote










                                                  up vote
                                                  0
                                                  down vote









                                                  What about approaching it from a different direction? Fulfill both your own need to protect your interests and look out for your current employers future operations without you by suggesting that such a large project should not be so dependent on a single person. Someone commented on the 'bus factor'....this is along those lines.



                                                  Suggest that another person be hired/contracted for that project to help with engineering problems, share workload, maybe ship the new product faster? Unless it's a /really/ small company or in a hard financial situation, I would assume they could afford to find a part time contractor (this sort of describes what I do) who could devote enough time to be familiar with the project, that when you leave, you could comfortably turn the work over to them without having to train someone from scratch in the 2 weeks/1 month/whatever you notice was for.



                                                  Another possibility, are you in an area where you could find an intern who might just want the experience and to be involved in a meaningful project? This would help your company with potentially lower financial investment, and if the intern worked out, they could have potentially already found their "new hire" after you leave, and it helps the intern gain experience.






                                                  share|improve this answer












                                                  What about approaching it from a different direction? Fulfill both your own need to protect your interests and look out for your current employers future operations without you by suggesting that such a large project should not be so dependent on a single person. Someone commented on the 'bus factor'....this is along those lines.



                                                  Suggest that another person be hired/contracted for that project to help with engineering problems, share workload, maybe ship the new product faster? Unless it's a /really/ small company or in a hard financial situation, I would assume they could afford to find a part time contractor (this sort of describes what I do) who could devote enough time to be familiar with the project, that when you leave, you could comfortably turn the work over to them without having to train someone from scratch in the 2 weeks/1 month/whatever you notice was for.



                                                  Another possibility, are you in an area where you could find an intern who might just want the experience and to be involved in a meaningful project? This would help your company with potentially lower financial investment, and if the intern worked out, they could have potentially already found their "new hire" after you leave, and it helps the intern gain experience.







                                                  share|improve this answer












                                                  share|improve this answer



                                                  share|improve this answer










                                                  answered Feb 8 '13 at 16:20









                                                  BLSully

                                                  1012




                                                  1012




















                                                      up vote
                                                      0
                                                      down vote













                                                      This is a relationship question, so those of us who don't know you or your management personally can only give general suggestions.



                                                      I have had one boss who had the kind of relationship where he wanted to know if I was looking, and even asked how my interview went before I ultimately left. He also took my request for a raise up with the VP, and told me honestly that I probably wouldn't get it, because (during the recession) the top management thought we should just be grateful to have a job.



                                                      If you have an honest trusting relationship, you might even be able to work something out where you agree to stay through the end of the project, or long enough to bring your replacement up to speed, or agree to work a few hours a week as a contractor after you leave...



                                                      Sadly, many companies and many managers are not that way. The advice to keep it to yourself is probably the best advice if you don't completely trust them. You may look for a long time before you find what you want, or even ultimately decide to stay where you are.



                                                      My last piece of advice is to put your personal integrity first (Yes, even if it costs you your job). If you feel like you are being pushed to make commitments that you feel are not quite honest, find a way to make things right. You will be glad you did in the long run.






                                                      share|improve this answer
























                                                        up vote
                                                        0
                                                        down vote













                                                        This is a relationship question, so those of us who don't know you or your management personally can only give general suggestions.



                                                        I have had one boss who had the kind of relationship where he wanted to know if I was looking, and even asked how my interview went before I ultimately left. He also took my request for a raise up with the VP, and told me honestly that I probably wouldn't get it, because (during the recession) the top management thought we should just be grateful to have a job.



                                                        If you have an honest trusting relationship, you might even be able to work something out where you agree to stay through the end of the project, or long enough to bring your replacement up to speed, or agree to work a few hours a week as a contractor after you leave...



                                                        Sadly, many companies and many managers are not that way. The advice to keep it to yourself is probably the best advice if you don't completely trust them. You may look for a long time before you find what you want, or even ultimately decide to stay where you are.



                                                        My last piece of advice is to put your personal integrity first (Yes, even if it costs you your job). If you feel like you are being pushed to make commitments that you feel are not quite honest, find a way to make things right. You will be glad you did in the long run.






                                                        share|improve this answer






















                                                          up vote
                                                          0
                                                          down vote










                                                          up vote
                                                          0
                                                          down vote









                                                          This is a relationship question, so those of us who don't know you or your management personally can only give general suggestions.



                                                          I have had one boss who had the kind of relationship where he wanted to know if I was looking, and even asked how my interview went before I ultimately left. He also took my request for a raise up with the VP, and told me honestly that I probably wouldn't get it, because (during the recession) the top management thought we should just be grateful to have a job.



                                                          If you have an honest trusting relationship, you might even be able to work something out where you agree to stay through the end of the project, or long enough to bring your replacement up to speed, or agree to work a few hours a week as a contractor after you leave...



                                                          Sadly, many companies and many managers are not that way. The advice to keep it to yourself is probably the best advice if you don't completely trust them. You may look for a long time before you find what you want, or even ultimately decide to stay where you are.



                                                          My last piece of advice is to put your personal integrity first (Yes, even if it costs you your job). If you feel like you are being pushed to make commitments that you feel are not quite honest, find a way to make things right. You will be glad you did in the long run.






                                                          share|improve this answer












                                                          This is a relationship question, so those of us who don't know you or your management personally can only give general suggestions.



                                                          I have had one boss who had the kind of relationship where he wanted to know if I was looking, and even asked how my interview went before I ultimately left. He also took my request for a raise up with the VP, and told me honestly that I probably wouldn't get it, because (during the recession) the top management thought we should just be grateful to have a job.



                                                          If you have an honest trusting relationship, you might even be able to work something out where you agree to stay through the end of the project, or long enough to bring your replacement up to speed, or agree to work a few hours a week as a contractor after you leave...



                                                          Sadly, many companies and many managers are not that way. The advice to keep it to yourself is probably the best advice if you don't completely trust them. You may look for a long time before you find what you want, or even ultimately decide to stay where you are.



                                                          My last piece of advice is to put your personal integrity first (Yes, even if it costs you your job). If you feel like you are being pushed to make commitments that you feel are not quite honest, find a way to make things right. You will be glad you did in the long run.







                                                          share|improve this answer












                                                          share|improve this answer



                                                          share|improve this answer










                                                          answered Feb 9 '13 at 5:52









                                                          Joshua Clayton

                                                          1011




                                                          1011






















                                                               

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