Due to Retire

[gee4]

Have any of you faced a situation where your boss is due to retire, has announced his retirement and suddenly he's on a wind down...comes in later, stops clocking in, has less to do, delegates less?

We are all due to complete mid year reviews by the end of Sept.  Faced with recent announcements and further unknown changes in the company, I am finding things awkward and unsure how to get motivated again.

It's not only a nervous time for some of us, but a difficult situation in trying to establish achievements so far this year and the prospect of setting new objectives for next year, along with any training requirements...especially when I don't know where my future lies in the new company structure.

Any suggestions?  I've been bored stupid for the past 3 weeks.

[JessW]

Gee

Has bossie completed any/all handover stuff?
Have you been through any papers/files left over and sifted/sorted/binned the useless?
Have you in the past just done company stuff for him or any of his personal organising?
Does bossie have personal items that will need organising/sending home etc?
Have you brushed up your cv?
How about doing a bit of 'community service' for people you like?

Otherwise, the only other thing you could do would be to look busy and compile that anthology of your poems!  Well, at least you would get paid for it!

Jess 

[gee4]

Has bossie completed any/all handover stuff?
He's not leaving until Dec

Have you been through any papers/files left over and sifted/sorted/binned the useless?
He has cleared out some stuff - reminded him twice in last couple of weeks to complete the exercise but it falls on deaf ears

Have you in the past just done company stuff for him or any of his personal organising?
Just company business

Does bossie have personal items that will need organising/sending home etc?
No

Have you brushed up your cv?
It's always up to date

How about doing a bit of 'community service' for people you like?
What?  Go begging?! 

[gee4]

Just to remind you Jess, my boss is retiring, there will be no handover to anyone as my department no longer exists and I currently have no job.

When my boss retires he will not be replaced in the new structure hence my concern of who I will work for and where I will end up.

[msmarieh]

Well basically at this point in time, there are two options facing you:

1) Company finds another position for you. Hopefully all is great and you continue on your merry way.

OR

2) Company doesn't find another position for you.

So, your strategic plan needs to be based on those two options. I assume you are starting to network with others outside your department so that they start to get to know you and keep you in mind for potential openings? Do you see any areas where you could contribute in particular? Have you suggestions for needs and niches at the company you could fill (i.e. your IT background could be a plus for example - perhaps helping with maintenance of the company web page?).

Next you also need to prepare in case you lose your job. Sadly, I know from your prior redundancies you have all too much experience in updating your CV and preparing for interviews, so I know you already know what to do on that side. You might want to refresh your MOS certifications to 2010. Will give you something to do to fill the time if your workload gets light and make you potentially more marketable. I know you have said previously that companies in Northern Ireland are less inclined to pay for this sort of thing, but had you asked this particular company about it? Perhaps your retiring boss will be in a generous frame of mind and feeling a tad guilty that you might lose your job and will support it.

Good luck.

[gee4]

Marie,

If HR would only engage themselves with the individuals affected, I might know what my options are.  At the minute no one can tell anyone anything until decisions at the top filter down, so I won't know where there may be openings.

My company may not make decisions for me locally, it could be at a higher level, so I may not have any say in that. 

Until HR provide some feedback, there is no forum to voice any opinions or put ideas forward.  It's bizarre to say the least that no one knows what is going on at the top, never mind at the bottom level.

Sadly the company intranet and web pages are I think managed at a UK level, so again I am only a number in a big organisation but it wouldn't hurt to bring my CV along to any 1:1 I might have and of course further MOS certification is an option. 

As for networking, let's just say people know who I am, what my skills are and have sung my praises for the past couple of years.  If they want me they will have to name their price!

[Atlanta Z3]

Gee the closest I have come to this was when the board came in a fired the president I supported. For me this a a ten minute happy snoopy dance in the board room.  Then I went back to the board member and asked what I could do.  He told me to pack up her office.
Then reality struck - interim managers came in with various levels of interference.  I supported them all as best as I could for nine months.  The last one told me his management team would have to have bachelor degrees which I do not.  So I went looking and found another job. He left for another position two weeks later and it was another six months before the board hired a new president.
My advice if you want to stay with this company, find ways to shine.  Look for projects that you can take on, volunteer for other departments, get your name out there.  Can you talk to the retiring boss to find out if he can recommend you for any positions?  Make an appointment with HR to show your interest in remaining with the company, sure you said nothing has been decided yet that doesn't mean you can't have an "off the record" chat with HR to discuss options. 
People know you and sing your praises are you sure about that, have you touched based with all those people? What are their options?

[gee4]

Atlanta,

My boss knows no more than the MD.  Information will be filtered down as it materialises.  We have told by HR to be patient despite asking for f2f meetings - they don't seem to want to engage.

To be honest, myself and the core team that are left, are fed up.  However until things settle down we can do nothing.

Unfortunately to look for new projects or volunteer for other departments would be stepping on another PA's toes and I couldn't be seen to be doing that whilst the re-structuring is still in progress, nor would it look good.  We have been asked to be patient until decisions have been made.  I think I am entitled to know what my options are should I be offered another position or face redundancy, but without any engagement from HR, I am at a loss.

This posting was more about my boss winding down and not communicating with me on Monday that he wasn't coming into the office.  It's like all of a sudden I don't matter any more and am not important.  I hardly spoke to him yesterday because I was so annoyed which is going to make it more difficult to carry out a mid year review by the end of next month.

See previous postings on re-org and re-structuring http://www.deskdemon.com/dnet/index.php?topic=10432.0

[JessW]

How about doing a bit of 'community service' for people you like?
What?  Go begging?! 

Gee

This is not begging, it is gaining allies, helping those in need and making them endebted to you, and getting your face out there as a useful sort of person to keep on (even if they have to create a job and title etc to keep you around!).  As long as you select your targets right, then you can only gain in the long-run (possible transfer within the company or reference material at least)!

An don't forget I did say "for people you like".

Just a thought!

ess 

[gee4]

It's out of my hands Jess.  Decisions are being made at the top and are filtering down through the company as they are confirmed.

I can't be seen going round other departments while restructuring is still going on - other PA's would not like it nor would management.  We have been asked to be patient so I am not about to do anything that may blot my copybook.

[msmarieh]

I don't think your boss not keeping you in the loop about his whereabouts is related to you not being important (to him or in general). I think he's likely got "short timers" disease and doesn't really care anymore. It's the "what are they going to do, fire me?" mentality.

[gee4]

True, but I still have to be professional.  It looks bad that I told people, oh yes he will be in the office this afternoon, only for him not to show.

[JessW]

If he is a no show, try adding a caveat to the effect of saying that nothing is set in stone and plans change - it will cover your back that way.

As for not rocking the boat, probably a good idea! 

Good luck and when can we expect your anthology of poems?   

[gee4]

Boss is another no show so far again today.

[gee4]

Why does my boss keep telling me he's coming into the office then doesn't show?

He is off on leave at the moment but was at home in between a long weekend break and his 2 week holiday.  He emailed me last night to say he would call into the office today and catch up on anything that was urgent.  I was a little surprised because I know he would be travelling again soon.  By 11am today he had not appeared.

I text him just after lunch and emailed also so see if he was still coming in, but nothing.

What is going on?