So I’m talking to someone on the phone at work this afternoon. And I happen to know she is on the Hit List, to be invited to resign (with, I must add, a generous severence package) next week as part of our current round of IT reorgs.
And, of couse, since she knows about some of the structural changes in my department, she asks how I’m feeling about it. And I sort of smile and nod and talk about opportunities from change, and change being a constant, and about that copy of Who Moved My Cheese? I got a year or two ago. All very sincere and heartfelt, but also sort of, “Jeez, I really don’t want to talk about this with her, because I know she’s going to ask –“
“So, anything I should know about in all of this?”
I know what she’s asking. Do I know about whether her position is in danger?
I feel a certain amount of responsibility toward this person. I was involved in hiring her. I managed her at one point, and have continued to work with her. We are, if not friends, then certainly comrades-in-arms. I like her. And it doesn’t help that I think it’s unfair that she’s on the Hit List. Indeed, my opinion was asked, and I helped fight for her and helped fight to make sure she was treated right when she’s let go.
But …
I have been given a confidence in my knowledge of this person’s impending termination. If I betray that confidence, I am doing a disservice to other people who I respect, and who have trusted me.
I’m a manager (at least at the moment). I have responsibilities to others. I also have responsibilities to the company. I don’t think I’m harming her in not saying anything. Telling her isn’t going to help her. Not really. No prospects for job interviews over the holidays, and not a good thing to have hanging over one during such a time anyway.
And maybe, just maybe, I’m a bit scared of torquing off someone, of putting my own ass at risk. Or maybe I just don’t want to be the one to break the news to her, since it’s not a decision I can defend.
“No. I don’t know anything concrete.”
And I don’t. There may be a change in plans. Nothing official has been announced, after all. And if it happens, it might be Monday. It might be in a month. Or it might never happen.
I think I did the right thing. I do. But I’m not very happy about it.
You did the right thing. It wasn’t really a fair question.
Hmmm. Well, that’s an interesting perspective on it. I hadn’t considered that.
You did right.
Hard to hold that line, but neccessary.
Generous severance package. Sounds like your company is trying to do right by everyone, too.
It’s particularly noteworthy because, as an engineering firm, the corporate culture is lay ’em off when the billable hours taper off. That’s basic engineering company philosophy (and is matched by rapidly hiring when jobs start up, which is why many engineers end up working for most of the major firms over their career). For an overhead group to say, “Hey, we have to reduce force, but we’re going to do right by these people and make sure they get taken care of” is extraordinary, and something new with our current CIO.
I think you did the right thing, too. And I think she put you is a tough position, one in which I might have replied, “It is somewhat unfair of you to put me in this position, regardless of what I know about the future.” Which I feel it true.
Or as I often say, “if you ask a question and don’t like the answer, it’s likely you’re the one at fault!”
But you really shouldn’t talk about it HERE either. What if she did a global search for Dave Hill? Does anyone at work know about your blogging? Shouldn’t you remove the entry?
Randy, just a little paranoid, using Doyce’s computer
I actually considered that before I wrote.