Leaving job - New person wanting my mobile number to ask questions when I'm gone.

AinsleyFatCat

Hi   Any advice on how to deal with a situation? I'm due to leave my employer soon and have been training the person taking over for a few months.  It is difficult for this new person as there is a lot to learn and you have to basically learn as you go along with the yearly cycle.  The issue is that this person has asked me for my mobile number and I think that it's so that they can ask me questions about how to do stuff. They are still asking for help on basic stuff so I feel that they will be struggling in the future.  However, I am leaving  for a reason and basically do not want to know anything about the place once I've gone. And, in any case, I won't have access to the systems that we use, and I'm one of these people that needs to see a problem first.  Am I being horrible if I refuse and state plainly that I don't want them to ring me about work.  I can't think of another reason for them to contact me otherwise really.  

MeteredOut

I'd be telling them to ask the employer to engage with me on a commercial consultancy contract

la531983

Give them a wrong number.

TheSpectator

Absolutely would not be leaving them my number and it's not being horrible to decline.

AinsleyFatCat

la531983 said:

Give them a wrong number.

I'm tempted to!

sheenas

Better still premium rate number. It really is a no, but I have done so in the past and it was a real pain. It came to a head when I go a phone call on a Saturday and then I blocked the number.

ButterCheese

Don't give them your number, just explain that you want to cut ties with the job completely.  90% of people will accept this without a second thought.  Lots of people become friendly with others (especially those who have trained/helped them in your situation) in a very short period of time, and then want to exchange numbers or add you to FB or whatever. 

So in a word, no.  You are not being mean or unreasonable.  You are being sensible.  If this person needs help in her new job then that's what line managers are for

FlorayG

Absolutely NO WAY give them your personal number. You're not being 'horrible'. You are being currently paid to do a job and train your replacement. After the day you leave you will no longer be paid so you have no further responsibility. It won't be your problem. If you get any contact from the company asking for help, remind them that you no longer work there so there will be a consultancy charge by the hour.
You can also just straight out ask the person why they want your number and then gently explain why you won't be able to help after you leave

Mark_d

Your old job is not your problem when you leave.   You have been training up your replacement and that's as far as can reasonably be expected of you.

AinsleyFatCat

Thanks for all the comments so far. I don't feel so bad now. I think that it will be best to be straight up with them.

MeteredOut

AinsleyFatCat said:

Thanks for all the comments so far. I don't feel so bad now. I think that it will be best to be straight up with them.

Are you moving to a new job? If not, then seriously consider putting a consultancy proposal to your old employer. I'd package it a x hours per month, at £y per hour, for 3-4 months, on a "use it or lose it" basis. Then you still get paid even if the hours are not utilised.