Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

historylme · Sep 19, 2005, 11:23 AM

I was talking to my supervisor and he shared with me that he will be lettig my friend go.

She's on vacation but I know she checks her email.

Do I ruin her vacation?

or wait till she comes back? which at that point, it will be too late.

Eriamjh · Sep 19, 2005, 11:25 AM

Will she mad at you if she finds out you knew and didn't tell her?

If you don't tell her, don't ever tell her you knew.

Ω · Sep 19, 2005, 11:28 AM

It is not your job to tell her. Unless she knows you are privy to this information keep out of it.

However we can never really know the intricacies as posted here. Is she being fired due to incompetence or due to "downsizing"?

Paco500 · Sep 19, 2005, 11:34 AM

I would not want to know on my vacation.

I may not even want to know before the deed was done.

What do you mean "by then it will be too late"? Too late for what? If she knows ahead of time, can she stop it? If that is a possibility, maybe you should tell her.

If you are not "pretty sure" what the right thing to do is, I'd not tell her. I assume it's not your place to do so and it may adversely affect you in some why. You don't know what she may do with the knowledge, and she may do something (under stress if the situation) that could be bad for you. I'm sure a friend would not intentionally harm you, but people are not in their right minds in this kind of situation.

Unless you think her knowing ahead of time could possibly help her in some substantial way, leave it alone. That's what I would expect a friend to do in similar circumstances.

historylme · Sep 19, 2005, 11:55 AM

Yeah, I was leaning toward not telling her since it wont be beneficial at all and I don't want to spoil her vacation.

It makes sense.

historylme · Sep 19, 2005, 12:01 PM

Thnks Guys

buffalolee · Sep 19, 2005, 12:01 PM

I would not tell her, and let the boss do his/her job.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Sep 19, 2005, 12:05 PM

DO NOT ruin her vacation.

Ω · Sep 19, 2005, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by history1me

Yeah, I was leaning toward not telling her since it wont be beneficial at all and I don't want to spoil her vacation.

It makes sense.

Be the rock she depends on.

However it will always depend in the people. I have been in the situation where I was to be demoted and one of my best friends knew but did not tell me. Think whether or not this person can take this information in a rational manner.

(and for those wondering, I never held it against my friend. The only person who was concerned about it was him.)

historylme · Sep 19, 2005, 12:32 PM

That good to know.

It just sucks though. She could have saved the $$ and the time and have used to look for another job.

I guess also it was not right for the supervisor to have told me that. Being privie to the information has only caused me to reconsider the company out of dislike for what will hapen to my co-worker / friend.

RAILhead · Sep 19, 2005, 12:50 PM

The sup is an idiot for telling you unless you're in the HR dept. We fire people like that at our company.

Maury

lavar78 · Sep 19, 2005, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

The sup is an idiot for telling you unless you're in the HR dept. We fire people like that at our company.

He's not so much an idiot as he is an ass.

turtle777 · Sep 19, 2005, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

He's not so much an idiot as he is an ass.

Maybe both. I've seen this combination before

-t

Maflynn · Sep 19, 2005, 02:05 PM

Ask yourself these questions
Is it true - appears to be
will be in said in love - yes I'm sure
Will it be beneficial/helpful - doesn't apear to be

Since its not going to help her and there's nothign she can do about it now, the best thing you can be is there for her if it does occur.

Mike

greenamp · Sep 19, 2005, 02:14 PM

I actually think you should tell her.

If she is going to be fired when she returns, letting her know before hand will give her time to gather her thoughts and make plans.

Chuckit · Sep 19, 2005, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Maflynn

Ask yourself these questions
Is it true - appears to be
will be in said in love - yes I'm sure
Will it be beneficial/helpful - doesn't apear to be

You Buddhist?

scottiB · Sep 19, 2005, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

The sup is an idiot for telling you unless you're in the HR dept. We fire people like that at our company.

Maury

Yep. While he's not ruined your vacation, he's effectively ruined your evening by you having to be concerned over this. It's not your business. I would not let her know that you knew, either.

There's a quote I've read like: He who seeks an opinion seeks an accomplice (or some such). While he didn't ask your opinion, he, for whatever reason, decided to tell you--again, not his place.

iMOTOR · Sep 19, 2005, 02:39 PM

He was both an idiot and an ass for telling you. There are legal reasons for that.

I would let her know sooner than later that you knew about the firing before she did. If you're not part of the HR department, then your supervisor handled the situation very sloppy.

When a company (at executive level or otherwise) decides to fire someone, that employee should be the first to know, regardless of why they're being terminated. When companies aren't discreet about terminations, they're asking for legal trouble, and justifiably so.

IFLY2HIGH · Sep 19, 2005, 05:31 PM

Hum, isn't there any rules in the federal government to be fired upon return of vacation? Meaning that they planned to fire the employee while he/she was on vacation? Sounds like some wrong doing to me, and hence a possible lawsuit against the company. If they planned it before the vacation the company should of fired her before vacation and given her the 2 weeks of the vacation pay and possibly severnce pay as well. If something happened during her vacation that is leading to her terminitation I'd look into some type of complaint against the company. I do believe I've read that you can't be fired while on vacation nor asked to return to work (if 2 weeks or less) on one of those federal law "must post at work" posters.

andi*pandi · Sep 19, 2005, 05:51 PM

there's no such rule, unfortunately. Most companies are "at will." It is very very sneaky though, and a trick done by bastards and bitches. I speak from personal experience. :/

I wouldn't call her on her vacation, but I'd let her know as soon as she gets back so she can prepare, bring a box to pack her stuff in, etc.

wallinbl · Sep 19, 2005, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

I wouldn't call her on her vacation, but I'd let her know as soon as she gets back so she can prepare, bring a box to pack her stuff in, etc.

Don't say a thing. Unless you are her boss, it's not your business, and you will risk your own job by saying anything. It's an even bigger mistake if it were to not end up that she not be let go.

rickey939 · Sep 19, 2005, 07:21 PM

Most definitely do not mention anything.

mania · Sep 19, 2005, 08:17 PM

i say drop a hint. "how is baja treating you? well you might want to stay for awhile..."

JohnM15141 · Sep 19, 2005, 08:20 PM

It was very sloppy of the boss to tell you, unless he's your "friend" too?

Otherwise if she really is a friend help her out and be a "rabble-rouser" I say go find the biggest loud mouth in the company and casually mention in front of them that "So and So" boss said he's going to fire "So-and-So."

That way by the time she gets back it will be all over the company, blown out of proportion and completely screwed up so bad that your friend can accuss the company of some miss-step in the process and gross negligence and counter accuss the boss of mis-management and harrasment.

Upper management will probably nix the firing and have a chat with the boss.

When it comes back to you, your position will be "I didn't say anything, someone must have overheard the boss tell me or he told others too!?!"

Even if your friend still gets fired, it'll be great fun and make the boss look like an idiot

alligator · Sep 19, 2005, 08:46 PM

Don't tell her, but be ready to hand her other job offers to help her get over it quickly.

KeriVit · Sep 19, 2005, 08:55 PM

No.

Fyre4ce · Sep 19, 2005, 09:15 PM

DON'T SAY ANYTHING! You don't want to lose your job too, do you?

mojo2 · Sep 19, 2005, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fyre4ce

DON'T SAY ANYTHING! You don't want to lose your job too, do you?

You have a point, Fyre4ce. The Supe may have been testing him to see if he could keep a secret.

Or, if the Supe knew they were friends it may have been an attempt to "kill two birds with one stone."

Salty · Sep 20, 2005, 12:23 AM

I'd just worry about her buying something she can't afford now while on vacation.

mojo2 · Sep 20, 2005, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

I'd just worry about her buying something she can't afford now while on vacation.

That certainly shows your concern for the friend, but you can't be responsible for that.

It wasn't his secret to divulge.

budster101 · Sep 20, 2005, 12:49 AM

Why is she being fired?

historylme · Sep 20, 2005, 01:26 AM

A combination of things. Slow growth, ridding of positions that are not vital, output performance not there, downsizing, etc.

Mostly, I think to save $$. My superV gave me an excuse of giving the rest of us promotions (he is the VP and soon to be the President) or bigger Bonuses come december. [That sucks, for it's at her expense. ]

I don't want to make the VP into a bad guy. I have no calms with him and has always been cool with me. However, I just wish he had not told me about he's "reorganization" plans.

historylme · Sep 20, 2005, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

I'd just worry about her buying something she can't afford now while on vacation.

How thoughtful of you.

mojo2 · Sep 20, 2005, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by history1me

A combination of things. Slow growth, ridding of positions that are not vital, output performance not there, downsizing, etc.

Mostly, I think to save $$. My superV gave me an excuse of giving the rest of us promotions (he is the VP and soon to be the President) or bigger Bonuses come december. [That sucks, for it's at her expense. ]

I don't want to make the VP into a bad guy. I have no QUALMS* with him and has always been cool with me. However, I just wish he had not told me about he's "reorganization" plans.

*Fixinated.

(Pronunciation Key)
qualm Listen: [ kwäm, kwôm ]
n.

A sudden feeling of sickness, faintness, or nausea.

A sudden disturbing feeling: qualms of homesickness.

An uneasy feeling about the propriety or rightness of a course of action.

Just helpin a brother out.

historylme · Sep 20, 2005, 01:43 AM

Ahaha, thanks, MJ2.

That was funny, *Calms* ooh, that is is a sign I must sleep.

11011001 · Sep 20, 2005, 01:53 AM

If this guy is a jerk, maybe he told you so that you would tell her. This would make it a lot easier for him when he has to give here the news.

budster101 · Sep 20, 2005, 02:00 AM

Maybe he is testing you, and it is you who will be fired if you tell her... she already knows this and isn't telling you about it...

budster101 · Sep 20, 2005, 02:01 AM

Maybe he told her you are being fired.
You that she is being fired.

To see what happens to make his job easier... can't keep someone around who isn't loyal to the company right?