Reveal my intent??

[jollystomper]

It all depends on your relationship with your manager, and sometimes his or her hands will be tied.

A Megacorp colleague of mine did something similar early in 2015, right after his good performance review - told his management that we was planning to retire in 2017 so he did not want any major assignments. In April of 2015 he was laid off. His manager did not want to do it, but his upper management attitude was if you are going to coast, not on our dime. He had been counting on those last 2 years for his retirement finances.

So I would not tell them unless you are ready to go at any notice. I would recommend you do what I did when I got a project in 2016, during my "OMY Glide Path" to retirement. I told my management sure, I'll take it, but this is also an excellent project from building others skills on, so assigning a couple of folks I could mentor would be great. They agreed, and I started the project and gradually let the other two folks get more skills and responsibility with. I enjoyed the mentoring, I made sure the other folks got all the glory, management gave me more flexibility with deadlines because of the mentoring, and it was a lot less stress and perfect for my glide path. By the middle of 2017 I was able to turn it over completely to the other folks.

I did tell my management in August of 2017 that I would likely be retiring within a year. However, I was prepared for then to drop me at any time and did not include any finances beyond that month in my retirement plan. I still ended up getting a raise and large bonus the end of that year, and even bigger bonuses this year, including one after I had retired. I am sure my attitude for that 2016 project was a factor.

I would only tell them if you are ready to go now - and do not assume you will get a severance if you do.

 

[Scuba]

+1

+1
After getting advice from this forum and from my labor lawyer friend, I gave the 30-day minimum required notice. I did start transitioning and documenting my work months prior to my departure, but in a subtle way and somewhat on my own time so no one noticed. I was asked to consult but declined, although I did offer to be available for questions or to help my replacement transition in once hired at no charge. I got a couple of brief calls, but it took them a year to hire my replacement and by then we had all moved on.

So glad I didn’t spill the beans sooner. I was in a C-level role. Once people know you’re leaving, your ability to influence key decisions drops substantially. And because I had done a lot of preparation before announcing my departure, by the time I left after 30 days, everything was fully transitioned to interim solutions.

 

[target2019]

Came close to spilling the beans yesterday. I genuinely appreciate what my customer has done for me. Still, I'll follow my plan, and not deviate. It is hard at times to control emotions, but the best path is stick to your plan, and give notice as you think the company needs or deserves.

 

[Sunset]

This was not planned, but DH got a package (1 year salary + healthcare) when he challenged the companies' strategy and continued to press his opinion. It took awhile, but they obviously got irritated by his constant disagreement with what they were doing.

I did that, and got included in the next bunch laid off (no packages).

 

[Ronstar]

Definitely do not reveal your intent. Nothing good can become of it - to you. The company will find a way to benefit from your advance notice. Just give the amount of notice required, and don’t let anyone at work know of your plans.

I announced my retirement in October to retire in April. I was part owner in the company. Rather than distribute profits to the owners at the end of the year, those in charge decided to keep the profits in the company. I don’t know if this decision was made based on my decision to retire, but I believe that I would have received my share of the profits if I would have waited until the following January to give notice.

 

[CoolRich59]

I am in the ‘don’t tell them’ camp.

In my case, my megacorp was going to RIF a couple of hundred people and each department had to send in a list of names to be let go. Those folks were going to get a severance package.

I was a dept. manager and, not so coincidentally, had been interviewing for a position with another firm. Even though I did not have anything in writing, I was pretty confident I was going to get an offer. So, I struck one of the names from our dept’s list and substituted my own.

Megacorp’s response to this gesture was to refuse to give me a severance package because I left voluntarily and was not RIF’d. It was not a big deal because I did get the new position, but I definitely learned my lesson about what to expect from a megacorp.

 

[youbet]

I am in the ‘don’t tell them’ camp.

In my case, my megacorp was going to RIF a couple of hundred people and each department had to send in a list of names to be let go. Those folks were going to get a severance package.

I was a dept. manager and, not so coincidentally, had been interviewing for a position with another firm. Even though I did not have anything in writing, I was pretty confident I was going to get an offer. So, I struck one of the names from our dept’s list and substituted my own.

Megacorp’s response to this gesture was to refuse to give me a severance package because I left voluntarily and was not RIF’d. It was not a big deal because I did get the new position, but I definitely learned my lesson about what to expect from a megacorp.

In your case, I agree with Mega's decision to not give you a package. Unless you could clearly show that the person whose name you crossed off The RIF list was more valuable than you and should be retained over you, you did Mega a disservice by substituting yourself. Or, put another way, your action could only be justified, and result in a package for you, if you could honestly show Mega would be better off keeping person X and letting you go (even if you had no other job opportunity).

The fact that you were going to leave anyway does not justify altering the list.

Nothing personal CoolRich. It's just that I've been through this personally (from both sides of the RIF process) and understand that:

1. The company needs to spend severance package money to maximize its survivability going forward.

2. The company must be consistent. Packages to RIF victims. No packages to volunteer quits, job changers or retirees. Any hint of inconsistency can lead to serious legal issues (which are what the severance packages are designed to avoid!).

I completely agree with your position of being in the "don't tell them camp." And congrats on the new position!

 

[joeea]

I am thinking I just let my mgr know I'm going in 2020. I know this may not be the best but, I hate to live a lie.

Is this bad?

At worst you'll be let go now. At best you'll be marginalized from now until retirement.

Unless you would be happy either way, keep it to yourself and give your notice when you are ready to leave, not before.

At this point I really don't care anymore about my career. We are ok financially for retirement.

Then you should hand in your notice and leave now, instead of playing games and waiting until 2020.

 

[CoolRich59]

In your case, I agree with Mega's decision to not give you a package. Unless you could clearly show that the person whose name you crossed off The RIF list was more valuable than you and should be retained over you, you did Mega a disservice by substituting yourself. Or, put another way, your action could only be justified, and result in a package for you, if you could honestly show Mega would be better off keeping person X and letting you go (even if you had no other job opportunity).

The fact that you were going to leave anyway does not justify altering the list.

Nothing personal CoolRich. It's just that I've been through this personally (from both sides of the RIF process) and understand that ...

No worries. You make a good point.

In fact, if megacorp had made any effort to explain this, it would have gone down better with me. Instead, the HR rep mentioned it in passing during my exit interview*. "Oh, by the way, since you resigned and weren't let go ..."

[*My manager was "too busy" to handle my exit interview and punted the task to HR.]

 

[eastnortheast]

As others have said, 2020 is too far off to give "notice".

I told my boss about 6 months prior to when I wanted to leave, but in the back of my mind, if he told me to leave in two weeks, I would have been okay with that.

As it turned out, I did stay for six months, and it was actually quite enjoyable. Was able to have a smooth transition with my replacement, refuse projects, etc, and generally not worry about the BS and office politics that seem to be inherent in a company.

One of the best comments from my boss was when I asked to take some time off. My boss said - "Eastnortheast, for the next few months, I can't say no to you!!" Nice to know that the power dynamic had shifted a bit from teh company to me, at least for the last few months.

As nice as it was, I had no desire to continue on past the six months that I gave them.

 

[racy]

You work for MegaCorp, so you know they have a Succession Plan. Don't worry about your leaving negatively impacting the company.

Personally, I waited till after January to announce my plan to retire in a couple of months. January 1 is when the year's vacation started again. Retirees, even us managers, were paid for unused vacation. Five weeks of unused vacation pay helped buy a new motorcycle!

I agree with others that announcing for 2020 is way too far ahead.

 

[jeeper]

How much notice would they give you?


I gave a year, and got to train some people that did not work out.


Then, with two months to go, I reminded the boss again. He came down on me hard, saying they could not train replacement in time. It was a cold two months, but everyone got what they wanted.


In retrospect, it was never goning to be an easy exit.

 

[Spanky]

This was not planned, but DH got a package (1 year salary + healthcare) when he challenged the companies' strategy and continued to press his opinion. It took awhile, but they obviously got irritated by his constant disagreement with what they were doing.

That rarely happens. Usually they just walk you out with no package.

 

[Lakewood90712]

That rarely happens. Usually they just walk you out with no package.

Even under the worst outcome, you always get a package , Final check and cardboard box for your personal items.

 

[Spanky]

Even under the worst outcome, you always get a package , Final check and cardboard box for your personal items.

That's least that they can do.

 

[Spock]

Even under the worst outcome, you always get a package , Final check and cardboard box for your personal items.

IBM you had to find your own box.

 

[Murph]

I’m in exactly the same boat, only sooner. Keep your mouth shut and do your job as you normally would, is my approach. Knowing I’m leaving allows the politics and bs slide right by.

 

[HI Bill]

Yeah, don't tell people. They won't tell you if they're likely to lay you off in 2019 or 2020, and coworkers just won't understand.

I gave a retirement planning talk at my office in mid-2018, and when they tried to give me a new project to manage, I let them know I was planning on leaving next year (3.5 years ago, when they hired me, I told them I planned to stay 1 to 3 years, so I'm already past that).

I wish I had not let anyone know. People either don't understand, or are jealous of my financial situation, and not being able to do so themselves.

It's better to leave with minimal notice...my boss said he wanted as much time as possible (a year would be good)...I figure since I've given him pre-notice, I'll give 2 or 3 weeks later on.

 

[HI Bill]

Even under the worst outcome, you always get a package , Final check and cardboard box for your personal items.

Not necessarily. One of the VPs from my last company came back from a business trip. They met him at the front door of the office building, had him hand over his laptop and phone, and escorted him to his desk, then watched him pack, and escorted him out. Never did find out why.

 

[meleana]

You are burnt out. If you don't think you can do this project and hang on for 2 more years, than give notice now ( a month or 2) and be done with it.


If you can muster up the energy to stay on, keep your mouth shut until it's time to give notice.

 

[NameTaken2]

There's no ongoing succession planning?

Retirements or exits are normally anticipated/planned for.


Regardless, 2 weeks notice is normally the standard min requirement.


Since you're FI and life is too short-
If you think you're on path to early grave, give notice on a timeline that addresses that.


Only you know how bad your work situation is and the effect on you-
and only you can decide what do to about it and when.


Good Luck

 

[LOL!]

Don't people want to help their subordinates that are left behind? One could groom someone to take over the project in 2020 when one leaves. One could have a very positive influence on someone else's career.

I remember a review once where I was asked where I saw myself in 5 years. I replied: I don't see myself working at this company in 5 years.

Five years later I was still there, but not for much longer.

 

[38Chevy454]

Don't people want to help their subordinates that are left behind? One could groom someone to take over the project in 2020 when one leaves. One could have a very positive influence on someone else's career.

That may be a nice thought, but reality at megacorp is this - put your hand in a bucket of water and pull it out, the hole that is left is how much you will be missed.

 

[catii]

Tell your manager that you'll be happy to head the new project --- if he'll outsource it to you as a well-paid consultant. Did that in 1986, departing from the feds, &, yes, he DID give me that project, & many more since then.

 

[bingybear]

I have given long term notice in most of my (few) job leaving events. It has worked out for me. However,I was able to just leave on the day I gave notice if I needed to. The one time I got laid off (facility closing I was read out on my last day at 9am and was allowed to leave. I worked until 2:30 trying to pass things off to people from other facilities. At that time a told them I needed to pack my stuff. They were surprised I worked that long.

In the end it was wasted time. I was trying to pass off knowledge and tools of the trade I made (automation and analytical tools). The people picking it up were so overloaded they could not internalize the info (and a year later most of them were laid off)

My advise, do you job and give them rasonable effort for what they provide you. Don't actively screw the company or co-workers. work until the end... and some of that will be passing off knowledge. And give them reasonable, but not too long of notice unless you don't care if they let you go that day or work until the end of your notice.