Stopping someone leaving from becoming a circus

[Anonymous]

Someone on my team in a key position is leaving. But he is totally passive aggressive. Took two vacation weeks in last two months and just requested another one three weeks from now. And might I add, a personal day next week. Just smiles and never voices displeasure. Do I absolutely know he is going? No, but all the telltale signs are there, including nothing personal in his office and every so often giving someone an FU type smartass answer.

Here's the thing, I already spoke to recruiters about filling the position because I cannot afford to have it vacant. What if I get someone before he resigns? It could very well happen in this market. Or he finds out about the search?

[Anonymous]

Are they leaving or not? I’m confused. They have the right to take vacation.

[Anonymous]

You’re filling a position before you know he’s leaving? WTF? You sound incompetent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they leaving or not? I’m confused. They have the right to take vacation.

This. Anything in addition to them taking leave?

[Anonymous]

Do you want to pay two people to do this job with no real information about whether one of them will leave? Because if you fire someone because you think they're job searching, your other employees will be sneakier about job searching and less likely to give you notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they leaving or not? I’m confused. They have the right to take vacation.

OP, I have not had him under oath say he is leaving,but along with what I have listed, he stopped engaging with people and in meetings won't even have eye contact. Seems like he is blowing everybody off + plus will wind up with no vacation time during the holidays so hard to believe he has not checked out and is wrapping up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they leaving or not? I’m confused. They have the right to take vacation.

OP, I have not had him under oath say he is leaving,but along with what I have listed, he stopped engaging with people and in meetings won't even have eye contact. Seems like he is blowing everybody off + plus will wind up with no vacation time during the holidays so hard to believe he has not checked out and is wrapping up.

You cannot just assume he’s leaving. Maybe there is something going on in his life. You are a horrible manager.

[Anonymous]

What if I get someone before he resigns? It could very well happen in this market. Or he finds out about the search?

What happens is that you realize that this is a problem that you created for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone on my team in a key position is leaving. But he is totally passive aggressive. Took two vacation weeks in last two months and just requested another one three weeks from now. And might I add, a personal day next week. Just smiles and never voices displeasure. Do I absolutely know he is going? No, but all the telltale signs are there, including nothing personal in his office and every so often giving someone an FU type smartass answer.

Here's the thing, I already spoke to recruiters about filling the position because I cannot afford to have it vacant. What if I get someone before he resigns? It could very well happen in this market. Or he finds out about the search?

1) He can leave if he wants and when he want (after giving proper notice if he decides that is a benefit to him).
2) He does not need to tell you he is leaving till he gives notice
3) He doesn't not need to tell you his thoughts related to his job satisfaction/job search
4) You cannot find a pretext to fire him because you are mad you don't have access to his inner thoughts and that you can't force him to stay or leave at your demand
5) He is not your child or pet or puppet
6) Consider that being controlling may be making your staff uncomfortable

[Anonymous]

Consider how poor a manager you are.

[Anonymous]

Are you able to read what you’ve written here objectively?

A key member of your staff took his earned benefits, isn’t complaining, has a clean desk, and you…are mad?

What is your company policy on paying out leave when people depart?

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who also thinks that signs absolutely point to this person leaving, and it’s smart to jump on it and try to have someone lined up? Nothing posted here tells me IP is a bad manager.

[Anonymous]

Have you actually talked to this person? Asked what you can do to ensure their growth and satisfaction at your company?

There could be a lot of things going on (e.g. family illness) but yeah, he probably is leaving. People in key roles often end up in a "too vital to promote" loop or get a lot of job creep without corresponding reward. Talk to your employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who also thinks that signs absolutely point to this person leaving, and it’s smart to jump on it and try to have someone lined up? Nothing posted here tells me IP is a bad manager.

If the person can go on weeks of vacation, then presumably OP can tolerate several weeks of vacancy while finding a new person. If not, OP needs to hire and train a backup regardless of whether this person leaves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who also thinks that signs absolutely point to this person leaving, and it’s smart to jump on it and try to have someone lined up? Nothing posted here tells me IP is a bad manager.

I don’t understand how taking two weeks of vacation over the summer and a personal day next week indicates someone is leaving. What am I missing?