WWYD- Leaving Job

[SDSorority]

Hi everyone. My last day at my current job is next Friday, and I am leaving to work from home in a completely different career (the career I actually went to college for! ). I gave a 3 week notice the first Monday of the December, but because of the position I am leaving needing to be approved by the powers that be, they still haven't even POSTED the job to be filled. Because of this, my boss has asked me (making me feel guilty for leaving) to come in after the holidays to work part-time for a week or two while they're waiting for the position to be filled.

WWYD? My boss is a nice person and I hate leaving the school in a pickle, but I DID give 3 WEEKS notice. The job is about 25 minutes from my home, so I would probably spend more in gas and taxes than what I'd make..... but my guilty conscience, and knowledge that with the nature of the new job, I'd have a few hours in my day to spare in the mornings where I COULD come in if I had to. I'm working really hard to get the job tasks up to date, not leave any i undotted or t uncrossed.....I'm even making a manual, organizing the files so that they can be picked up where I left off.

....thanks for letting me vent. I guess I'm more asking on how to tactfully say no.

 

[clh2]

Nice to know they can't live without you...isn't it?

I'm just going to toss out an option - just something to consider. If they only want you for part time for 2-weeks, I might go ahead and say yes. I would ask for an increase - to cover the things like gas and your commuting time. At this point - they need you more than you need them.

In the future, if you need a positive reference from them - they can even mention your extra dedication upon leaving.

Of course - if they aren't willing to pay you extra - for the part time work - then I would say that you need to be more focused on your new job.

Good Luck!

 

[cluvsdisney]

I would try not to feel bad. If the situation were reversed, they would get rid of you without trying to accommodate your financial needs. But I get where you are coming from.

Is there any way you can do the work from home? Or like CLH suggested, make it worth your while. Ask for more money.

 

[dawnball]

If you want to tactfully say no, keep it short and simple. "I'm sorry, I start my new job on the first, and won't be able to work for you after Dec X"

If you want to help out, I wouldn't do it as a few hours in the morning, because the schedule would grate on me fast. I'd go for "I can come in on these three Saturdays from X to Y, and there needs to be someone here that I can cross-train as I do the work."

 

[LJSquishy]

You are actually in a very good position, so you should feel proud that they value you that much! Sometimes it's nice when you realize how much you are appreciated.

If you really intend to say no, make sure you do it right away. Simply state in polite manner that you wish you could stay to help them out but you gave 3 weeks notice (2 weeks is the norm) and unfortunately you will be busy with your new job.

If you can spare the hours and possibly could stay to help them part time, you can certainly try to ask for a temporary increase to cover your commuting expenses but they will probably decline. Commuting is part of your responsibility of course and they likely won't help you out there. But, I suppose it depends on how badly they need you!

Congrats on your new career...Enjoy!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Hi everyone. My last day at my current job is next Friday, and I am leaving to work from home in a completely different career (the career I actually went to college for! ). I gave a 3 week notice the first Monday of the December, but because of the position I am leaving needing to be approved by the powers that be, they still haven't even POSTED the job to be filled. Because of this, my boss has asked me (making me feel guilty for leaving) to come in after the holidays to work part-time for a week or two while they're waiting for the position to be filled.

WWYD? My boss is a nice person and I hate leaving the school in a pickle, but I DID give 3 WEEKS notice. The job is about 25 minutes from my home, so I would probably spend more in gas and taxes than what I'd make..... but my guilty conscience, and knowledge that with the nature of the new job, I'd have a few hours in my day to spare in the mornings where I COULD come in if I had to. I'm working really hard to get the job tasks up to date, not leave any i undotted or t uncrossed.....I'm even making a manual, organizing the files so that they can be picked up where I left off.

....thanks for letting me vent. I guess I'm more asking on how to tactfully say no.

Just say that you're not available to come in, but that you'd be available for consulting over the phone or via email, at a given hourly rate (when I left my last job, I charged $100/hour consulting, with a 15 minute minimum when responding to questions and emails).

 

[lovemygoofy]

Are you working at a state school like a university? Most places for the position to be posted has to have the position empty. If you continue to fill in this position in any capacity, it could be difficult to fill this position. UNLESS, the school plans to run a temp contact for you that would be just basic pay and no benefits especially if you gave your notice and it was accepted or forwarded to HR.

 

[wiigirl]

I would try not to feel bad. If the situation were reversed, they would get rid of you without trying to accommodate your financial needs. But I get where you are coming from.

Is there any way you can do the work from home? Or like CLH suggested, make it worth your while. Ask for more money.

 

[SDSorority]

Are you working at a state school like a university? Most places for the position to be posted has to have the position empty. If you continue to fill in this position in any capacity, it could be difficult to fill this position. UNLESS, the school plans to run a temp contact for you that would be just basic pay and no benefits especially if you gave your notice and it was accepted or forwarded to HR.

It is a university, but it's private, not public. Right, I would get no benefits, it would just be a few hours each day.

 

[sweetdana]

I would do it, I would ask fro enough to make it worth while

You might need to come back, you never know if the grass is greener on the other side, and you may just need the reference.

I would not do it without a benefit, but I would certainly not leave them without the help.


Plenty of peeps went back when a greener grass on the other side turned out to have more weeds.

 

[Disneychix]

If I was able to do it given the nature/hours of my new job then I would do it. 25 mins from home isn't too much of a commute.
But I would def get an ending date of the arrangement.

 

[MomToOne]

Will you have started your new job yet? Many companies have a restriction on side jobs - you may need to have it approved if you will have started at the new job. It's common in the industry I work in to have some sort of "consulting" agreement in place for a little while after you leave a job, so companies are used to getting the requests, but it can still be a tricky thing to navigate, especially if you are inexperienced.

If you haven't started the new job yet, then I'd arrange a consulting agreement where the hourly wage feels "worth" it to you. If they can't meet that request, well then, they can't and they will have to deal with you leaving. Don't give into the guilt - they WILL survive your leaving.

 

[SDSorority]

Will you have started your new job yet? Many companies have a restriction on side jobs - you may need to have it approved if you will have started at the new job. It's common in the industry I work in to have some sort of "consulting" agreement in place for a little while after you leave a job, so companies are used to getting the requests, but it can still be a tricky thing to navigate, especially if you are inexperienced.

If you haven't started the new job yet, then I'd arrange a consulting agreement where the hourly wage feels "worth" it to you. If they can't meet that request, well then, they can't and they will have to deal with you leaving. Don't give into the guilt - they WILL survive your leaving.

My new job is self-employment, so restrictions would just be my own choosing. The university won't pay me more than my current hourly wage, no benefits.

My gut tells me just to cut the cord. Driving 25 minutes each way for $45 pay BEFORE taxes (if I work 3 hours) just doesn't seem worth it, no matter how nice I want to be.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

My gut tells me just to cut the cord. Driving 25 minutes each way for $45 pay BEFORE taxes (if I work 3 hours) just doesn't seem worth it, no matter how nice I want to be.

Trust your gut! Use your downtime for a little "me" time so you can really focus on your new endeavor.

 

[mm1971]

Hi everyone. My last day at my current job is next Friday, and I am leaving to work from home in a completely different career (the career I actually went to college for! ). I gave a 3 week notice the first Monday of the December, but because of the position I am leaving needing to be approved by the powers that be, they still haven't even POSTED the job to be filled. Because of this, my boss has asked me (making me feel guilty for leaving) to come in after the holidays to work part-time for a week or two while they're waiting for the position to be filled.

WWYD? My boss is a nice person and I hate leaving the school in a pickle, but I DID give 3 WEEKS notice. The job is about 25 minutes from my home, so I would probably spend more in gas and taxes than what I'd make..... but my guilty conscience, and knowledge that with the nature of the new job, I'd have a few hours in my day to spare in the mornings where I COULD come in if I had to. I'm working really hard to get the job tasks up to date, not leave any i undotted or t uncrossed.....I'm even making a manual, organizing the files so that they can be picked up where I left off.

....thanks for letting me vent. I guess I'm more asking on how to tactfully say no.

In the big picture, if you may need them as a reference in the future it's probably a good idea if to help if you have the time. I would however, ask them to cover travel costs back and forth as well as your pay rate. Explain to them that you feel you would lose $$ by doing them the favor. If you can get them to agree to pay for mileage/travel costs, it sounds like an easy decision.

Good luck.

 

[QVCshopper]

I would do it (and have done something similar), but I'd offer to come in 2-3 times per week for longer than everyday for 3 hours. Maybe 6 hours on Tuesday and Thursday. That's only four times driving the distance. Remember, tons of people make minimum wage and would and do drive 25 minutes for $45. Really, it makes you look like the better person and hopefully continue the mutual relationship.

 

[martikus]

I wouldn't do it just to get a good reference. You have them 3 weeks notice. I guarantee if you come in it will allow them to delay finding someone even longer because they will still have you. So don't do it thinking it will give them time to find someone.

If you WANT to do it, then I would name your price and hours. Like 6 hours, 2 days a week to cut down your commuting time. They can take it or leave it. There is nothing that says it has to be at your current salary. No way I'd go in every day!

But I wouldn't feel you HAVE to do it.

I actually had one job call me a month later and beg me to come help them during tax time. I worked 5 evenings a week for them (after my regular job) at double my old rate for 3 months. It was exhausting but I made some good money.

 

[TLuvsD]

I'd counteroffer--something like martikus suggested, either 2 or 3 days a week for 6 hours or so at a time. And it would be short term "I can managed this schedule for two weeks".

 

[TravelMommy]

It sounds like they might be trying to prolong this, you must do what is best for you. It sounds like they are going to try to stretch this out and if you won't be getting more money, you have to do what makes financial sense for you. You sound like a great employee who they don't want to leave, you gave them ample notice. Good luck in your new career!

 

[tvguy]

That would sooo be sooo odd in my industry. It's not uncommon with some of the owners I've worked for to have an employee give 2 weeks notice, and to be told they could clean out their desk now.
Also, some of the corporations I have worked for don't consider a job open until it has been vacant for 3 months. It's called slippage, and they can bank the positions salary for months doing this.