Need to give notice but boss is out of the country?

[Corporate Thug]

I got a new offer that I have until tomorrow to accept. However, the new place wants to start ASAP (i.e. two weeks). I need to give notice tomorrow but my boss is out of the country until April 1. Would email be appropriate in this circumstance?

 

[postmortemIA]

no delegation of authority at your current employer?
or does your boss have a boss?

 

[EagleKeeper]

no delegation of authority at your current employer?
or does your boss have a boss?

That was my thoughts. Unless your boss is the top dog, notify his boss.

Is common sense lacking so badly?

 

[MotionMan]

no delegation of authority at your current employer?
or does your boss have a boss?

Tell whomever is in charge right now in person AND send an e-mail to your boss, noting that you told the current lead (and cc: the lead).

Apologize for the bad timing and offer to speak to boss by phone or upon his return.

All bases covered and bridges intact.


That all being said, congrats on the new position!

MotionMan

 

[SagaLore]

Give notice on April 1st, let the boss think its a joke.

 

[TwiceOver]

Call? They do have phones in other countries.

 

[gorcorps]

Didn't this thread just happen?

 

[Corporate Thug]

That was my thoughts. Unless your boss is the top dog, notify his boss.

Is common sense lacking so badly?

He's top boss, there are no others in fact...common sense isn't lacking.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Tell whomever is in charge right now in person AND send an e-mail to your boss, noting that you told the current lead (and cc: the lead).

Apologize for the bad timing and offer to speak to boss by phone or upon his return.

All bases covered and bridges intact.


That all being said, congrats on the new position!

MotionMan

Thanks!

We have an office manager but she is far from being in charge...boss is the type of guy with an ego that would be bruised if he isn't the first to find out. Pretty lame, I know.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Didn't this thread just happen?

I don't know, I certainly didn't post it.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Give notice on April 1st, let the boss think its a joke.

that would mean I would have to stay for an additional week. To be honest, this is the first job I've had where I don't feel bad leaving because of a lack of appreciation / nothing done for employee retention / no upward mobility. I just don't want to burn bridges over a week's worth of notice after putting up w/ BS for so long.

 

[mistercrabby]

send a note to your boss and boss's boss and HR.

 

[Leros]

So who's in charge right now? You?

 

[Zorro]

Call him let him know....

 

[gorcorps]

I don't know, I certainly didn't post it.

I think somebody else recently had a similar issue, but I can't seem to find the thread. I was going to post it for your use as there was a decent amount of responses but I'm not sure what to search for anymore.

 

[kranky]

Given that your boss is the highest ranking person, then email is really your only option unless you can call him. I would apologize for relaying the news via email but also say that you wanted to inform him immediately and it was the only viable option you had. I like MotionMan's idea of offering to speak in person upon his return.

 

[Leros]

Given that your boss is the highest ranking person, then email is really your only option unless you can call him. I would apologize for relaying the news via email but also say that you wanted to inform him immediately and it was the only viable option you had. I like MotionMan's idea of offering to speak in person upon his return.

Sounds like OP is at the second level of management. If he can't get in touch with his boss, perhaps he could email the rest of second level managers to let them know what's going on.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Sounds like OP is at the second level of management. If he can't get in touch with his boss, perhaps he could email the rest of second level managers to let them know what's going on.

My company has 9 employees...there are no levels of management. It's the owner and then everyone other employee is just an employee with ranging levels of experience.

 

[dbk]

call him wherever he is... doesn't he have his cellphone with him?

 

[MixMasterTang]

There has to be a way to get in touch with him, ask the office manager if they know the contact info.

 

[styrafoam]

Send him a text, post on the company Facebook wall, add on Craigslist, singing telegram, or a sky writer. Should be able to get in touch by any one of those but I would do all of them to be sure.

 

[sjwaste]

I got a new offer that I have until tomorrow to accept. However, the new place wants to start ASAP (i.e. two weeks). I need to give notice tomorrow but my boss is out of the country until April 1. Would email be appropriate in this circumstance?

Yup, email. I had to do it as a consultant because the partner I reported to wasn't in the same city more or less ever.

It's not perfect, but it's your career and you have a deadline. You're moving on and that isn't going to change, so give your notice how you have to give it. Write a professional email and if you'd like, keep it short, say you're giving your notice, when your last day will be, and to call you if there are questions.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Skype would allow face to face.

 

[Leros]

My company has 9 employees...there are no levels of management. It's the owner and then everyone other employee is just an employee with ranging levels of experience.

Ah. Then I'd just send an email to the owner. If he doesn't reply in a day or two, tell the whole office yourself so everybody can start preparing.

 

[Lifted]

TXT: Yo, I'm out. It's been real dawg.

Or you could just call him like the 10 other people said, and you ignored.