The One Thing You Can Control at Work Is You

It isn’t rude or dismissive to opt out of carrying someone else’s trauma in addition to your own. Tell them you enjoy working with them, but you’ve got a lot going on in your own life and don’t have the emotional bandwidth to offer them the support they need. If there is employee assistance, perhaps mention that or resources like the many tele-therapy options available. In an ideal world, you should be able to establish this reasonable boundary without negatively affecting your working relationship, but there is no guarantee and that’s OK.

So Long, Farewell, I’m Retiring

When quitting a job, it is customary to give two weeks’ notice. What about retirement? What is the customary amount of time to give for that milestone considering that the circumstances are much different. I see on my company’s website that it recommends two months minimum. Are there other considerations?

— Brendan, New York

You are required only to give two weeks’ notice, but most companies prefer more time to prepare for an employee’s retirement. Two months seems to be the ideal time frame for many organizations. It will allow your company to find someone to fill your role upon your departure and make other necessary preparations. The most important thing you can do, beyond giving the proper notice, is to participate in the transitioning of your duties to whomever will be assuming your responsibilities.

How you leave an organization is how you will be remembered. If you have a fraught relationship with your job, you may be tempted to burn it all down on the way out and who am I to object? But if you have a strong, positive relationship with your employer, plan a productive transition that reminds the organization what they’re losing while making a good impression. If you want to leave the door open for consulting or part-time work upon retirement, make that known so you will be actively considered when the time comes. If you have any vacation or sick leave coming to you, ensure that it is paid out properly. Figure out how to transition your benefits, whether it is rolling a retirement fund over, or enrolling in COBRA health insurance coverage if you are younger than 65. Prepare for any exit interviews or retirement contracts you might be expected to sign.

On a more personal level, during the last week or two, say your goodbyes to those colleagues with whom you had strong professional or personal relationships and exchange contact information with those you want to stay in touch with. If you have external clients, let them know you’re leaving and offer any information they will need about whom they will be working with in the future. When all is said and done, enjoy your retirement. Embrace the new reality of your time being your own because you’ve certainly earned it. Congratulations.

Roxane Gay is the author, most recently, of “Hunger” and a contributing opinion writer. Write to her at workfriend@nytimes.com.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/business/roxane-gay-work-friend-coming-out.html