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Tricky Situation...

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nat_84 | 11:41 Mon 06th Nov 2006 | Body & Soul
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Hey Everyone - Hope you all had a good weekend!

Basically, my boss told me and my collegue (who only works in the office on Wednesdays) that he'll be letting our only other collegue go this week - obviously with a full months notice...

I know he hasn't actually told this person yet - and its only usually me and him that work in the office together full-time, so our boss has put me in a really bad situation. The guy thats losing his job is really nice and basically i feel two-faced! He just told me that he thought our boss was acting really weird and distant and i could only agree...but i feel REALLY bad, beacuse i know why he wouldve been acting "distant".

Was it right for my boss to tell me that he'd be letting my collegue go, knowing that im the only one that works with him full-time and that i'd have to keep it from him?
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No it ain't right, hes bang out of order.

But i appreciate the situation your in, because if you tell the fella you know hes going, you could well jeopardise your own job, He sounds like he gets of on using his authority, its completely disrepectful to the person thats going.

I would'nt work for a to$$er like that, if hes done it once, he will do it again, it might be ''you'' he gets rid of next time?
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i know laurence i agree.

My parents also said he was out of order for doing that.

But he's been really good to me. Before he told me he was releasing my collegue - he told me he'd be giving me another pay rise by the end of the year or start of the year, also that he understands at my age, i'm going to be looking to move out soon - so he'll help me out etc.

So although it was great to hear that, it also adds to my guilt towards the guy i work with...

And i have a feeling he's gonna tell him today - and when he tells me i don't know how to react!!!! DO i react like i never knew anything, or sort of like i had some idea....??!!
i would'nt let on personally, tho the temptation would be there, i don't think your collegue will be in the best of moods when he finds out he is going, so the last thing he would want is to know that you knew also, he will believe that there was a conspiricy to get rid of him by you & your boss
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Yeah i think your right, i'll act shocked...and dissapointed....well i'll try.

Thanks laurence.x
no problem.

Don't do an ''oscar winning'' act tho lol
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lol - i'll try not to. ;o)
Er, aside from the moral dilemma, It's not illegal for your boss to tell you. Plus it depends on your role there. I've worked in an office before as PA & Office Manager and therefore knew most things before they were made public knowledge. It's hard at times, especially when you like or feel for the person in question, but it all boils down to professionalism and discretion at work.

I've had plenty of colleagues approach me after an incident has happened and say that they don't know how I do it and that they couldn't do my job!!

Thing is, Nat, only you know if your boss did it for the right reasons or not. If your boss is a vindictive or selfish bloke then it is out of line. But maybe he felt he should let you both know so that you are aware beforehand that this won't impact the two of you. Otherwise he would have had to arrange 1:1 meetings with each of you on the same morning. The first to inform the guy of the redundancy, then two follow up meetings with you and your other colleague to reassure you that your jobs are secure.
p.s. I think you'll find that the guy who loses his job won't hold you responsible in any way. If you want to clear your conscience then speak to him about it after he is informed.
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Yeah thanks Champagne, i definitely understand what you're saying.

But it just makes it that more difficult because its such a small office!!! And like i said - we (me an dthe guy losing his job) are the only ones that work 5 days a week together!

If it was a huge office wih X amount of people, it obviously wouldnt bother me.

Im sure he wont hold me responsible for anything though.
Hi Ralph x x your boss shouldn't have told you, but the best thing to do is try to forget what you know

p.s lucky you are such a hard worker or it might have been you ha ha ha

p.p.s is his chair better than yours?!?!?!
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lol Leo! Its really odd, because as you know - i do literally hardly any work - but he calls me into his office offering me a pay rise - i got my first rise after only 3 months!!

But its an obvious incentive to get me to stay, because there are no bonuses with this job, no social life and when my colleague goes i'll be by myself most of the week!! :o(
Aww Nat I feel for you.

I've had a number of similar situations and it can be horribly hard.

Someme friend of mine were going up against each other for a very hard to get internal job where it was likely whoever didn't get it would have to go elsewhere to try and find one.

One friend was told on the Friday she'd got it and confided in me and I had to spend the rest of the time until they told him days later pretending I didn't know with him getting exciting and wondering and all the others around him too, was awful. Seeing him go up to be told as well knowing while everyone was wishing him luck and saying he'd be fine.

I was also tipped off my boss had handed his notice in but couldn't say anything as it'd betray the confidence of whoever told me (who shouldn't have). It was very upsetting for weeks due to the uncertainty of the team and department and knowing things he was saying were lies and such. He finally talked to me the day before, told me he hadn't wanted to upset me and that he was now staying. It was a horrible time.

I've known when people were going to be sacked and moved too and people making veiled comments the poor people had no idea about which was just awful.

Life can be crap sometimes hin and I feel for you xxx
maybe you Boss has seen the skool disco photos , hence the pay rises!?!?!? xxxxx
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Awww thanks jenna. I suppose its all part of life and work...as nasty as it can be!!
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lmao ads!!!! My boyfriend keeps teasing me saying i'm sleeping with him!!! Trusts me...i'm not!!

I think he genuinely likes me and to be fair, when he does give me work i do finish it quickly and efficiently!!

He told me i'm now his number two (hopefully not intended in a rude way) and that me and him will be running the business together. So the future could be good for me, thats if i won't have died from boredom by then!!!
has you boss given any indication as to WHY this guy is getting the shove? obviously it's not a financial thing if you are still being offered a payrise soon? and what did he mean by 'help you out' with moving out? Sound a bit suss to me hon so keep your wits about u!
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lol claire - no i think its all innocent. It is for financial reasons. I earn probably half of what my collegue earns (and i earn a pretty decent wage) and i know my boss has a HUGE Tax bill to pay by the beginning of 2007.
ha ha nat so really the blokes off because you are too good!! go Turtles!!!!
well fair enough I guess but the other guy might not be willing to go without a fight. Could get nasty so have an emergency escape route planned for when it kicks off!!!!
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lol yeah well basically..... lmao.

Nah, my boss said, for what he's earning, he's not specialist enough for the work we are more involved in...

But basically its all down to finances.

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