No one knows I’m leaving

[Deleted User]

moneysavinghero said:

If you want to tell everyone, tell everyone. Worst that could happen is you get fired, but you are leaving anyway.
Your boss does not own you, however much they like to feel that they do.

Don't worry about the handover - that is not your responsibility.

What about references?

sammyjammy

If it makes you feel better and gives you something to do write up a handover.  Tell everyone you are leaving on the last day (buy cakes etc) and give the handover document to one of the new people informally, if they don't use it you'll never know.  
Chill out and start looking forward to your new role.

Grumpy_chap

References are valuable and not worth going against the boss to risk future references.
Ultimately, if you do not do a handover, it is the people left behind that get the tough ride and not you.

I once had a job where I left and was asked not to tell anybody that I had left.  I was made redundant so left the office sometime in October on 'gardening leave' and then formally left the business 4th December.  The redundancy pay was 'enhanced' and spread out over a period so the final pay was due to come in May.  I was tied by that agreement not to tell anyone that I had left.  I did point out that people in the office would notice I was not there after a while and the boss simply said he would tell people that it was a flexible working / home working trial.

We had an informal social group that met up from the work place around Easter time for a meal out, which I went to.  It was very surreal, and the people still at the company still had not been told I was leaving / left for good.  In view of the remaining redundancy payment still due, I had to sort of go along with it.  Though, I did not feel similarly bound to not tell other former employees also at the meal, and how could I help it if someone still at the company overhead while I was speaking with someone no longer at the company?

It is odd sometimes how bosses want to have 'power' - I can only imagine they are very weak and insecure really.

Anyway, for the OP, I would either do no handover, or do a handover and e-mail it to the boss with a reference to the fact he had asked that OP did not communicate with any other staff.  That is keeping the OP professional in their actions.