Retired Expat
Full time employment: Posting here.
Brilliant!
You are spot on with your comments. I ran the West Coast Division of an East Coast based firm. When I announced my retirement it was to happen once a replacement had been found and trained. But head office insisted on doing that finding. They took forever and picked a guy I rejected previously as whole unsuited to.the role.. After more than 15 years the relationship I built with the firm completely unraveled during this protracted 6-8 month period.
Honestly would have been better served to say nothing and just walk out the door one day or with a few weeks notice. Very much a case of “No good deed goes unpunished”. Only positive was they allowed me to reduce my days in the office to pack up my house and get it sold, and spend a bit more time where I was moving to while telecommuting.
Worrying about leaving the company in a bad light is only to be considered in very small firms where one is a major player (think like a doctor practice, or small legal firm).
It's admirable, but rarely a 2 way street. 4-6 weeks vs. 6 months just means they will wait 4 months before getting serious about replacing her. She'll also find she has a high chance of getting "dead man walking" fever in about 4 weeks, and may then further regret the long exit ramp.
4-6 weeks from now is mid-march - perfect retirement season! Spring! She'll have the best of the year in front of her to adjust and de-stress, vs. retiring into mid-summer. (And if she gives them 6 months now, they'll punt at the end and ask for another 3.)
If she's even thinking of the 6 month thing, I'd say set a firm date of 6 weeks, and she can always ask them if they still want to extend when she reaches 4 weeks if they are doing things right. By then, she'll have a good idea of how that would work out.
You are spot on with your comments. I ran the West Coast Division of an East Coast based firm. When I announced my retirement it was to happen once a replacement had been found and trained. But head office insisted on doing that finding. They took forever and picked a guy I rejected previously as whole unsuited to.the role.. After more than 15 years the relationship I built with the firm completely unraveled during this protracted 6-8 month period.
Honestly would have been better served to say nothing and just walk out the door one day or with a few weeks notice. Very much a case of “No good deed goes unpunished”. Only positive was they allowed me to reduce my days in the office to pack up my house and get it sold, and spend a bit more time where I was moving to while telecommuting.