JT & Dale Talk Jobs: When your coworker confides that she's planning to quit

DALE: This puts you in a nasty position: Sure, you want to be loyal to your coworker, but on the other hand, you want to be loyal to the team, and, bigger picture, to the customers that are counting on your work. I’d start by going to your coworker and reminding her of the likely consequences of her departure and seeing if she won’t give management plenty of notice or consider returning for the busy season.

J.T.: I assume the coworker is keeping this from management for some good reason involving paid time off or benefits, so I doubt an appeal to her will do much good. And that’s OK. Remember that management is responsible for being able to handle these kinds of twists and turns. And at least you won’t be blindsided with the news, so if there’s anything you can do right now to prepare yourself, you should do that.

DALE: I’m glad you added that last comment, about using the information to prepare yourself for this coworker’s absence. Even so, I’m not sure you shouldn’t do more. What if your management and other team members learn that she told you, and you didn’t pass along that intel? Will they doubt your loyalty? And shouldn’t that loyalty be to the team and the team’s customers?

J.T.: Turnover happens all the time, and the management will manage it. Yes, it might be a little bit difficult for a stretch, but things will work themselves out.

DALE: That’s one option: wish and hope. Option 2: Go to management and suggest contingency planning. Invite your bosses to think about how they would handle a key person shortage, and maybe get them to cross-train people to help out in a crunch. Option 3: Confide in your boss. Your co-worker might be annoyed, but then again, there’s a chance she actually wants the secret out so she can leave sooner.