I’ve worked very closely with these people for years. It was announced that the site will close in 5 months and we will all be made redundant. My redundancy isn’t big. I’ve been there 4 years. Everyone else has been there 20 to 40 years so… Most will retire.
Consultancy period starts next week. I’ve already jumped ship and got a new job. I’m not waiting 5 months to get the “good leaver” bonus which is a decent bonus.
In my mind. I had to act fast. I was offered a job, I took it. That job might not have been there in 5 months. I have no doubt in my head I’ve done the right thing. It’s a hard world now. Nobody can risk not working.
On the other hand. I’ve had the pleasure to work with people who have been there since day 1. They have been there all their working lives. They don’t know anything else. I got on well with them and I feel I should have stayed until the end. Go down with the ship with them.
I feel I’ve betrayed them. But I’m not risking losing a job because of a silly one time bonus.
I have to tell them the truth next week by handing in my notice.
I know this probably isn’t glamorous like a spicy secret. But I feel I needed to tell someone.
Comments
You have to take care of yourself first and foremost because no one else will. Loyalty does not pay the bills. Your coworkers who are actually your friends will understand this.
You’ve been there four years, so they’ve gotten to know the character of you. They are also aware that circumstances at 25 are much different than at 45, or 50, or 60.
The rational, human coworkers will applaud your decision even as they will miss you in these last months. They will congratulate you on your forward-thinking, and tell you that in your shoes, they would have done the same thing. (Maybe in words, maybe just in spirit).
Your bosses will understand, too. Try to look at the bonus as more of a farewell gift to those long-time employees who are finishing up the full-time employment season of their lives at a company that they’ve clearly loved and has clearly treated them well.
And remember – “abandonment” would be walking away without giving notice, or leaving and trashing the company. You are doing neither – you are just entering the next season in your life, hopefully a better person for your experience there.
> I feel I’ve betrayed them
No, why would you say that? The company gave you sufficient advance notice to help to plan for this. Then they offered a bonus if you chose to stay until the end. You declined their offer based upon your personal choices. That’s a fair deal all around.
I get it that you will feel sad, yes, but this is in no way a betrayal.
If they weren’t at retirement age, they’d be doing the same thing