Resignation is a sensitive topic for both the employer and the employee. Resigning from a workplace is often one of the hardest things and is done after a deliberate thought. Sometimes it takes years to decide whether to quit or not. The question is should you tell your employer where you are going after you resign? It depends on the circumstances, situation, and the relationship you have with your employer. Let’s know the answer to this question- Should I tell my Employer where I am going?
One needs to look at the agreement rules of the company. If you have signed a non-compete agreement, and you have joined their competitor’s company, that is trouble for you. Do not do things that would give leverage to your employer to take you to court. These are some of the legal things that you need to watch out for. Make sure you resign on your employer’s terms and conditions, to avoid the hurdles and have a smooth resignation.
Most prefer not to say where they are going after they resign from their employers for these reasons:-
- They want to guard it by keeping it a secret because of the obvious reason which is they don’t want to spoil it for their present colleagues and invite wrath from a jealous staff.
- Let’s face it, not all are blessed to work with decent people, there is that usual office politics and some jealous ones who are rooting for your downfall. In order not to spoil the remaining days left with the company, they choose to remain low-key.
- They don’t want to get outsider treatment. For instance, if you reveal where you are going to work after you resign, chances are that your colleagues will automatically treat you as an employee of that company in which you are going to join. Some prefer not to reveal due to it. Maybe this may be a petty reason for some but not for all. This is a valid reason for some why they don’t want to reveal their next workplace.
- Some prefer not to say because the company where they got hired has not been made official. For instance, a written document hasn’t been yet been given. Yes, sometimes a word is given but an official declaration takes time. Some people prefer to get solid proof of their employment before they reveal their hiring. Well, this seems like a genuine reason.
- Some don’t reveal for superstitious reasons. Like some people believe that a good thing has to be guarded before its conceptualization. Revealing before its conceptualization will invite bad luck or may spoil the deal or some fear if word gets out, some of their competitive colleagues or superiors may bad mouth about them to the company they are about to join.
- Some may just prefer to keep mum about it for reasons they only know.
The reason is many, depends from an individual to individual and on what kind of company policy they are into.
Let’s study the situation and chart out a possible outcome when you reveal the resignation:-
- Your boss is friendly to you and both of you share a cordial relationship:– suppose you tell your boss about your resignation, and your boss asks you where you are headed next? If it’s a decent boss and who wishes for you the best. For instance, your boss has proven time and time again that he/she wants your best and supports you in your endeavors and he/she is always rooting for you. Such genuine bosses do exist and these bosses value growth for their employees, it is okay to tell such bosses.
- Situation 2:- You told your boss about it and asked him/her not to reveal it to anyone in the office. Here it depends on your trust dynamics with your boss. Do you have full trust that he/she will not reveal it to your colleagues? Suppose your boss revealed it to your colleagues by a slip of tongue. Are you ready to bear the brunt of it?. Let’s be honest here, not everyone may like you. There will be spoilers everywhere. Those spoilers may bad mouth you to the company you are about to join so why take so much risk and reveal it. And if your boss and you share a cordial relationship, you may ask him/her to wait for the big reveal until it’s officially sealed. Your boss might take it as a friendly challenge provided your relationship with your boss is friendly.
- Situation 3: You are caught up in policies. For instance, If there are policies related to moving to the company where you are hired, your boss is ethically bound to adhere to those policies. In such cases these scenarios are possible. You reveal your joining to that particular company and you may be immediately dismissed. There are cases of such people who were put on garden leave. Which involves being walked out and their access to buildings and computers terminated. They still got paid for a respectable period but could not work.
- If your company has that rule, it’s best to tell them, in such a case, keeping a secret is of no use at all. Worst case scenario is by keeping it a secret, can open you up to legal issues like a lawsuit from the company, stating that you carried on with your work knowing fully that you were in breach of that policy.
- Situation 3. You told your company where you are going to and the next thing is that your HR calls up the other company you are about to join and shares negative details about you and the other company who is under no written obligation recedes your offer. The best thing is to study your environment. If you are going to the same line of career, chances are your old company will have contacts with the company that you are about to join. It’s best to study the circumstances surrounding it and reason it out before revealing it.
These are some of the given situations.
So should you tell your employer where you are going, when your resignation is still not settled?
- Maybe yes or maybe no.
Before deciding, study the situations.
- Chart out the plans.
- See if it is the same career line and will it damage you or elevate you by your reveal.
- Study the work environment: Is it toxic, if yes, it’s better not to reveal it.
- If the work environment is healthy, but still study the conditions and circumstances before you tell them.
- Prepare any exit questions they may ask. It was good to have one that is diplomatic in order not to burn bridges.
If at all you decide to tell your employer where you are going next. Take these precautions or some actions before you reveal them to them.
- Be ready to face any kind of consequences. It may be a mild or harsh one but there will be a slight change in the atmosphere, that is for sure. You will not feel so much at home like you used to feel. That is normal. One must be ready to face that. Sometimes, rude employees will show a more harsh attitude or may try to sabotage your exit.
- Next, before you reveal your exit do a thorough cleaning of your machine like deleting personal files, arrange your belongings and prepare mentally for anything like being walked out immediately after giving notice, if required.
From all the above discussion, the best-case scenario would be not to reveal your next destination. Here is the reason why.
- Because you never know how this information may be used. It may be used against you. Not everyone thinks alike and you may have colleagues who have friends in the company you are about to join and they may love to give their unsolicited advice to your next company’s colleagues. Since they have friends over there, this is bound to happen but why make it happen before your arrival. Wait till you make your mark in that company and then reveal it to your old company.
- The other reason is out of pure logic, why would you. Does your company tell you all their plans? No, right instead they do everything to protect their stance and notice that they always try to be in a good negotiating position. So why should you not do that? If you are under no obligation, like under a certain policy, it better not reveal to them your plans and destination because it’s your future and your life that is at stake, not theirs.
- Another reason not to tell is to save yourself from a bad retention strategy some of your employers may play out on you. Another thing to note is why would you want to move to a new place with the shadows of the previous one. It’s better to start fresh and clean with no strings attached in your new workplace.
Okay, if you are compelled to tell due to many valid reasons you may have, take these precaution steps:–
- Do not update your social media about your new job. Give it some time to shimmer and wait till you are secure in your new place.
- Always leave on good terms with your employer, that is one favor you do to yourself for your career and your mental peace.
Conclusion
Parting ways is a part of life, we cannot escape it nor ignore it. Therefore, It is always good to have a good attitude and maintain discretion wherever you may be. Living peaceably with all and minding your own business must be adopted for avoiding endless drama and yes, sometimes if you are not cautious, the workplace may become a drama club with all the theatrical performances. If you work in a toxic environment, it’s all the more reason to maintain your reputation by avoiding any kind of workplace politics. In short, leave in such a way that you do not dig your hole.