Would It Be Dumb To Tell My Manager My Plans?

[ychuck46]

Why??

Why would you do that? There is no possible good that can come to you by doing it. You would likely be let go early as they accelerate their plans to replace you, and if there are any layoffs coming you may have placed yourself at the head of the line. It would be a lot easier emotionally for your manager to let you go knowing your plans. I would keep quiet.

 

[imnontrad]

I think it would be a good idea to approach your manager and suggest that other employees be cross trained to learn the things that you do (and you learn about them). This will leave the office in better shape and give the other employees more skills in case the office is closed.
Also, if the office does close, you can offer to be "laid off" first and possibly get a separation package, leaving your co-workers with a little longer timeframe to find another job.
But, a lot can happen in the future. You'd hate to tell them you are leaving and then face a health crisis which will delay retirement because you need the health insurance.
Start now to prepare for retirement. Identify places you would want to volunteer, places you want to visit, and that all important "to do" list around the house.

> Corporate sent a big-wig up to our puny little office up here in VT just this week, to reassure us all that there are NO PLANS to close; that we're an IMPORTANT PART of the business; blah, blah, blah.

Actually, I know someone who works for a small company that was acquired by another out of state. The manager told them that layoffs were coming. Then someone came from the new head office and when he found out what they were told, said that there was no intention of letting them go and, in fact, they needed their talent. I think the only one let go was that manager that put fear into every one. A few years later, she's busier than ever at her job.

 

[Scarab]

Don't do it. Give 2 weeks notice.



If you really like your boss and feel guilty, then make it 3 weeks.

 

[MultiEventer]

I worked in 'IT' for 30 years and FIRE'd at age 54. I went through the same dilemma as project leader of my team, was very good at what I did and had some specialized knowledge others did not have. 1 year is way too early. Leaves you vulnerable. No way you can predict what happens given micro or macro business situations. Also, you cannot predict how people's attitude changes when they know you are leaving. People think differently when they know you have money. It's weird. I experienced weird reactions from a few co-workers but especially family members. Some were happy and wanted to know the how's and why I did it. Some not so much like they thought you must be a drug dealer or something. What was one of the most epic moments in my life was met with skepticism and envy from a few others. Anyway, I gave them a month notice and offered to help on a contract basis afterwards. They took me up on the contract basis but they low balled the contract rate and refused to compromise to even what was close to a market rate. Not even what my current salary and benefits would have amounted to as a full time employee. So I put in my last month, had a retirement party and moved on since I did not need the money anyway. Turned out, I was not as important as I thought I was to the team or company. We parted friends and I'm on my 4th year of a glorious traveling FIRE lifestyle!

 

[Lienlord]

I feel that people like to give a year notice more for themselves than for the employer. Its validation to yourself that your plans for retirement are official. Without telling the world, its almost like retiring isnt going to happen.

This was my initial thought when planning to give a year's notice. This isn't just a resignation to start another job in two weeks and continue the rat race, this is closing the book on a huge part of one's life. I thought it would give time to reflect, wind down my career and transition to a new life. I thought it would also give an opportunity for a "farewell tour" of sorts with more time to anticipate retirement.

But after reading the wisdom of the board, I have swung the opposite direction and see that there's more harm than good to come of a long notice, that nobody really cares or shares your enthusiasm, and a longer notice will only promote bitterness, jealousy and strife. So...Two Weeks it is!

 

[Dynaflash]

I did it. Gave a little over 14 months notice after 37 years. Retired at 62. The extra time was for the same reasons as you. It was a mistake on my part. Instead of getting a replacement for me to train they waited until the very end. In fact, after I was gone but in the last 14 months they decided that since I was leaving that they would get all they could from me. My work load was unbearable.
In your case if they are closing the office you should not say anything because there could be a early retirement package offered to you that you will not get if they know you are leaving anyway

 

[Maidensong]

My DH did everything you all are warning about, except he told his boss a full two years before he intended to retire early from G**gle. And also told his boss's boss. He even discussed how to find and train his replacement, but nothing was ever done. I guess they didn't believe he'd actually do it. He continued to get excellent bonuses, stock options and raises.

Then when the time came he submitted the resignation letter he'd written two years earlier and gave two weeks notice. His boss still did nothing to replace him. In fact, his position wasn't even posted until the day he walked out of the office for the last time with his boss begging him to telecommute (we were moving to a LCOL area) until the end of the year. His last day in the office was May 1st, but he was on the company payroll until the following January. I think the DH was hoping in the end that they'd fire him so he could collect unemployment for a while!

Anyway, that said, I would NOT recommend what he did. It could have gone sideways in so many ways. We were amazingly lucky.

However, I do recommend to OP that you write your resignation letter and keep it under lock and key. Just the act of committing your plans to paper is a boost.

Good luck!

 

[2177V]

It is a myth that anyone is indispensable. I have seen many employees left the company that I thought was indispensable. What happened is either nothing gets done or critical work is re-assigned to other people until they hire a replacement. The work continues somehow.



If the company gives 2 weeks notice when they fire people, then employees should do the same if they retire. When you do retire, it is OK to burn your bridges since you are not likely to come back. On the other hand, if you found a better job, I would not burn your bridges because you may have an interest to maintain a good relationship.

 

[aja8888]

It is a myth that anyone is indispensable. I have seen many employees left the company that I thought was indispensable. What happened is either nothing gets done or critical work is re-assigned to other people until they hire a replacement. The work continues somehow.



If the company gives 2 weeks notice when they fire people, then employees should do the same if they retire. When you do retire, it is OK to burn your bridges since you are not likely to come back. On the other hand, if you found a better job, I would not burn your bridges because you may have an interest to maintain a good relationship.

Usually, a company gives you no notice when they fire you. They just ask you to clean out you personal stuff and they walk you to the door!

 

[jollystomper]

To the OP, I would only tell your manager your plans for August 2020 if you can afford, and are prepared, to leave today.

I had several co-workers tell manager of their plans to leave a couple of years out. When the next round of Megacorp layoffs came around, much less than a year down the road, layoffs hit, both were gone. Managements view was that it was easier to let someone go who had already made up their mind to leave. Unfortunately those co-workers were not happy, as they were still counting on those years of income to prepare for retirement.

I told my management in August 2017 that I likely would be retiring before the end of 2018. But that that point, I was financially prepared to go, so there was nothing they could have done to me to hurt my retirement financial plans.

 

[PJHawk]

I've been thinking about this a lot because I'm almost on the final approach to the airport. I originally thought about 3 months. Now I'm thinking 30 days max. My wife says 2 weeks. I think anything over 30 days will become awkward. I'm also going to be mentally ready to be escorted out of the office on the day I announce. I'm sure I can list everything I do in 30 days.

 

[Jerry1]

Usually, a company gives you no notice when they fire you. They just ask you to clean out you personal stuff and they walk you to the door!

Yes, but they do tend to pay you for the two weeks.

 

[aja8888]

Yes, but they do tend to pay you for the two weeks.

Depends on the company. I got let go from two firms over the years and was just paid up to the day of release and any accumulated vacation time. No set rules on this.

 

[nhcycling]

4 weeks notice is plenty at any MegaCorp ...

 

[sn2792]

I let my manager know 6 months ahead of time and it worked out really well. They named someone to replace me and my folks that reported to me started reporting to the new person. I was able to brain dump and stayed on working with the team to help out. My boss even put feelers out for an interest in leaving package and I ended up getting a years severance package when I left. So in my situation, it was well worth it.

 

[BigNick]

It is a myth that anyone is indispensable. I have seen many employees left the company that I thought was indispensable. What happened is either nothing gets done or critical work is re-assigned to other people until they hire a replacement. The work continues somehow.

If the company thinks you are indispensable, they will provide a chauffeur-driven armoured vehicle to make sure you get home safe each night and back into work the next morning, and your contract will have clauses prohibiting you from engaging various hazardous activities. Kind of like the (possibly apocryphal) story that there were only three people who know the formula for Coca Cola and they never flew on the same plane. (I knew someone whose contract required him to vacation no more than 30 minutes from a helicopter landing pad, and to check in with his location on any hiking trip.)

In the absence of the above-mentioned armoured car and restrictive clauses, your sudden demise is something that the company could cope with. Plan your retirement accordingly.

 

[Calico]

If the company thinks you are indispensable, they will provide a chauffeur-driven armoured vehicle to make sure you get home safe each night and back into work the next morning, and your contract will have clauses prohibiting you from engaging various hazardous activities. Kind of like the (possibly apocryphal) story that there were only three people who know the formula for Coca Cola and they never flew on the same plane. (I knew someone whose contract required him to vacation no more than 30 minutes from a helicopter landing pad, and to check in with his location on any hiking trip.)

In the absence of the above-mentioned armoured car and restrictive clauses, your sudden demise is something that the company could cope with. Plan your retirement accordingly.

 

[AreWeThereYet0]

Lot's of good advice here. 2 weeks notice and no more. Only tell them when you are ready to walk out the door because they might show you to it when you tell them your plans.

 

[tsturbo]

Lot's of good advice here. 2 weeks notice and no more. Only tell them when you are ready to walk out the door because they might show you to it when you tell them your plans.

Great advice! Exactly what I plan to do!!

 

[scrabbler1]

I gave one month's notice before I left in late 2008 after working for them for 23 years. But then again, I was working only 2 days a week at the time, so it translated into 9 more working days.


I was working on one big project, one I was planning to get done in those 9 days. I got it done, barely, about 45 minutes before I walked out the door for the last time.


A few months earlier, a key coworker in another division who worked with me a lot on other stuff retired. I spent some time upgrading the programs I maintained for her and her work group so that others in both divisions could run them more easily.


I would not advise anyone giving that much advance notice. I recall some long-time employees giving a few months notice, but nothing as long as a year. Really, who wants to be a lame duck for that long?