Earlier, it was noted that you might be in the position where your firm is conte

Question

Earlier, it was noted that you might be in the position where your firm is contemplating a layoff, though employees are not aware. It will be a targeted layoff, and a close friend, who recently went through a divorce and is struggling financially, might be laid off. That individual has been offered a job with a competitor - but only wants to take it if her job is in jeopardy. As the controller, you are aware of the impending layoff and who might be targeted - and it is possible your friend is on the list for layoffs. The news of the layoff is considered to be highly confidential and it must be timed just right.

Your friend tells you about the job offer and asks what she should do. How do you answer? What personal and professional issues would you weigh? What are the risks professionally and personally

Explanation / Answer

The Answer to this question completely depends upon the relationship of the person with the colleague as a friend and as a friend as well.

If I was in the same position, then I will try to convenience her to leave the current job and accept the new offer without knowing her about the lay-offs.

In another case of her being the good friend to me, I would give her slight hint regarding upcoming layoff sort of issue without actually breaching the confidentiality of the issue, in a manner like an office gossip. Or making the new offer look good to her in comparison to the current job so she would consider new offer more seriously.

The only risk I see here is losing a good friend if things change a bit then the expected. And in the case where the layoff is going to happen and her name is on the list, in that case, she will be out of the company by either way so it does not make a lot of difference apart from making her better friend.

In the case where layoff happen and her name is not on the list, then also short-term future in the workplace is not going to be same as earlier, fear of more layoffs, less bonus and incentives, the extra workload is going to prevail for at least next 6 months.

Professionally I don't see any risk as long as you did not break the confidentiality of the issue.

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