Am I obligated to respond to former employer?

[Anonymous]

Unless the former employer is paying you or you offered to help with the transition, there is no obligation to respond. It might be in your interest to do so if you happen to like your successor personally, but ignoring the requests or simply responding to the first one by stating that you are busy and no longer work there is fine. Or offer consulting services, if you want.

Your former boss should not have provided your contact information to anyone without your permission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you should have cooperated in transitioning your work before leaving. That was unprofessional. That being said now that you don’t work there, totally inappropriate for them to contact you like that.

NP. So, you shouldn't assume someone didn't so something unless you have clarified what actually happened.

The op did, in a post above. They say the new person tried to meet with them before they left but they didn’t accept.

NP. You misunderstood. OP said the boss directed that OP contact OP's predecessor, and OP found a way to get around that. OP has not stated that OP avoided helping successor while still working for employer.

I’m not sure what your workplace is like, but everywhere I’ve worked this would be considered deeply unprofessional. When you resign, if you’re directed to train someone or transition your work, the professional thing is to….do so.

[Anonymous]

Make them pay you a consultant fee if they want the info. I did that. It was fabulous!

[Anonymous]

“No.” Disconnect the call. Block the number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone! I think I should have anticipated this because my boss actually asked me to contact my predecessor a few times when I was there. I always found a way to avoid doing it because it made me really uncomfortable.

I don't want to burn any bridges because it was a feat in itself to be able to leave on good terms, but I think I will need to block them. Thanks again!

If you block them, you will be burning bridges. It sucks you're in this position, but that's the reality.

NP, agree but I’d go with what a PP said about responding but saying you can’t recall. Respond very briefly but never be able to help - so sorry, I don’t recall. They will stop calling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you should have cooperated in transitioning your work before leaving. That was unprofessional. That being said now that you don’t work there, totally inappropriate for them to contact you like that.

NP. So, you shouldn't assume someone didn't so something unless you have clarified what actually happened.

The op did, in a post above. They say the new person tried to meet with them before they left but they didn’t accept.

NP. You misunderstood. OP said the boss directed that OP contact OP's predecessor, and OP found a way to get around that. OP has not stated that OP avoided helping successor while still working for employer.

I’m not sure what your workplace is like, but everywhere I’ve worked this would be considered deeply unprofessional. When you resign, if you’re directed to train someone or transition your work, the professional thing is to….do so.

Agreed if you are still at the company. However, once you are gone and no longer on payroll, you are not obligated to help with any knowledge transfer. It’s over. You are done. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To not burn a bridge you can say something like .....
I am swamped right now and as much as I wish I had time to help I can't. So sorry that I can't be of greater assistance.

This is probably what I would do. I would also wait a day or two before responding.

Nah. That implies you will be available to help sometime in the near filuture when you're less busy. Block or ghost them and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you should have cooperated in transitioning your work before leaving. That was unprofessional. That being said now that you don’t work there, totally inappropriate for them to contact you like that.

NP. So, you shouldn't assume someone didn't so something unless you have clarified what actually happened.

The op did, in a post above. They say the new person tried to meet with them before they left but they didn’t accept.

NP. You misunderstood. OP said the boss directed that OP contact OP's predecessor, and OP found a way to get around that. OP has not stated that OP avoided helping successor while still working for employer.

I’m not sure what your workplace is like, but everywhere I’ve worked this would be considered deeply unprofessional. When you resign, if you’re directed to train someone or transition your work, the professional thing is to….do so.

You're still not understanding. When OP started at her former job the toxic boss told her to contact her predecessor, who no longer worked there. OP didn't do that. Now there is a new employee, toxic boss is telling that person to contact OP, who no longer works there. In other words, this is a pattern with toxic boss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you should have cooperated in transitioning your work before leaving. That was unprofessional. That being said now that you don’t work there, totally inappropriate for them to contact you like that.

NP. So, you shouldn't assume someone didn't so something unless you have clarified what actually happened.

The op did, in a post above. They say the new person tried to meet with them before they left but they didn’t accept.

NP. You misunderstood. OP said the boss directed that OP contact OP's predecessor, and OP found a way to get around that. OP has not stated that OP avoided helping successor while still working for employer.

I’m not sure what your workplace is like, but everywhere I’ve worked this would be considered deeply unprofessional. When you resign, if you’re directed to train someone or transition your work, the professional thing is to….do so.

Agreed if you are still at the company. However, once you are gone and no longer on payroll, you are not obligated to help with any knowledge transfer. It’s over. You are done. Period.

+1. It is normal to help onboard a replacement or assist with training while you are finishing out your time at the company. In no world is it appropriate for your previous employer to expect this after you have left and are no longer getting paid.

[Anonymous]

No. Block. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you should have cooperated in transitioning your work before leaving. That was unprofessional. That being said now that you don’t work there, totally inappropriate for them to contact you like that.

NP. So, you shouldn't assume someone didn't so something unless you have clarified what actually happened.

The op did, in a post above. They say the new person tried to meet with them before they left but they didn’t accept.

NP. You misunderstood. OP said the boss directed that OP contact OP's predecessor, and OP found a way to get around that. OP has not stated that OP avoided helping successor while still working for employer.

I’m not sure what your workplace is like, but everywhere I’ve worked this would be considered deeply unprofessional. When you resign, if you’re directed to train someone or transition your work, the professional thing is to….do so.

Do you know what the word predecessor means?
OP is saying they should not be shocked by this person contacting them, because when OP was in that role, their boss wanted them to contact the person who held the job prior to OP.

OP is not saying they found a way to avoid meeting with their successor, i.e. the person who is contacting them now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems pretty rude to block your replacement without explanation, it isn’t his/her fault your old boss told them to contact you. They aren’t doing anything wrong and you don’t want to burn bridges by just never responding. But I think it’s totally reasonable to tell them politely that you aren’t able to help, but good luck and goodbye. I have always fielded a couple random questions after leaving jobs - like where is X stored, which vender did I use for Y.

I would just answer the person's questions, unless it was a direct conflict of interest. Everyone here is being dramatic.

Nope. No one is working for free. Offer to pay up or figure it out yourself.

[Anonymous]

I think I know you, and I would just not reply at this point, for at least a couple of weeks and then get back with— “sorry it’s taken so long, hope you were able to find what you need”.

New guy needs to do historical own work, boss should have treated you better so you didn’t leave. Miss you OP!