Handing in notice earlier now someone else is leaving too?

FuffyCat

I was offered a job that I've wanted for a long time with a University that comes with some excellent benefits (fewer hours, more holidays, a less corporate environment). My notice period is a month.

I was planning on waiting for the contract before handing in my notice (which is what I've always done) but another colleague announced she moving teams within the company and relocating in a month. This colleague is the only other person on our team that knows how to do the vast majority of my job (seeing as I took over her role beforehand), and I thought she would have taken over my responsibilities when I left until they rehired someone to take over my role. They are now discussing that I take on a lot of her role (as well as my own role) and hire someone to take over mine in the future, where I would teach them my role. Sorry, it's all a bit confusing. 

My new manager is 99.9% the contract will come through (and within the next week) but I hate being dishonest to my current team. They are assigning me future work that I know I won't be there to complete. They are planning a lot of transition which is a huge waste of time seeing as I won't be there in just over a month. If I tell them now they will have longer to figure what to do with both of us gone and maybe start the hiring process as soon as possible instead of relying on me being there to train new staff. 

With us both leaving we are really screwing up the team and they will be left with a lot of work not being carried out. I don't want to leave them stuck and would rather try and leave on good terms!

Thanks in advance!

oh_really

None of the team developments are your issue. Tender your notice as required and move on.

FuffyCat

They've just mentioned that they will be recruiting for my role so that I would move to my colleagues, they'll be setting up the adverts and such... 

74jax

It's of no concern what their future plans are. Carry on as normal. When you get your contract, hand your notice in. It's really not your issue. 

They wouldn't think twise if it was the other way round. 

You could tell them now, not like your contract etc and then stay put. No need to tell them anything. 

prowla

The company's requirements and your plans don't align - which is more important to you?

oh_really

You need to seperate your concerns for the employer out the equation.If the employer required to shed jobs you would be in the mix with the others, without a second thought.

Go and enjoy your new role and don't look back.

FuffyCat

Thanks, everyone I think I needed some reassurance that I wasn't being a d*ck here! 

I suppose I can just play along with "learning" my colleagues role for now and claim I only got the offer when I get the contract... 

Thrugelmir

No need to claim anything. No one in the company is going to care. No one is indispensable. You'll soon be forgotten. 

Marcon

FuffyCat said:

I was offered a job that I've wanted for a long time with a University that comes with some excellent benefits (fewer hours, more holidays, a less corporate environment). My notice period is a month.



With us both leaving we are really screwing up the team and they will be left with a lot of work not being carried out. I don't want to leave them stuck and would rather try and leave on good terms!

Your employer should have thought of that and put a much longer notice period in your contract at the time you were hired.

Once your new job is completely in the bag, hand in your resignation - and offer to make it 6 weeks rather a month (assuming the University is happy with that), which looks willing without being excessively long.

General_Grant

If you are concerned about your current employer - remember they can still call on the knowledge of your colleague who is simply moving within the organisation, not leaving the organisation completely as you are planning.

When learning the ropes for the role you would otherwise be taking over, make whatever extra notes are required if there isn't a full "how to do the job" handbook prepared by the colleague.  Then you can provide that when you leave, which should help them when a new person takes on that role.

And make sure there is a handbook giving as much information as you can as reference material for whoever takes on your current role in due course.

TELLIT01

The problems the company will experience are not your problem. You are doing the right thing for you by not handing in your notice until the new job is confirmed.  You would be in the **** if you handed in your notice, the new job offer was withdrawn and your current employer refused to allow you to withdraw your notice.