Should I let my boss know I'm looking for another job?

I normally would not let my employer know that I'm looking elsewhere, but this situation may be different, and I need advice. I feel like I'm in a catch 22. There are only 3 of us, and I'm about to hire a 4th, but even having a 4th employee, if I leave (I'm the manager), they will be screwed. SO, I feel guilty even though I shouldn't! (I'm working like a dog!) If I give 2 weeks, I feel like it's not enough. but, that's just my conscious. I also don't want to say Im looking, because at the same time, I don't want to get fired. One other huge thing, is, I'm about to report a workmans comp incident. And even with this I'm dragging my feet (because I feel gulty! What's wrong with me?!). Short story: the job is WAY more labor intensive than they told me it was going to be, and because of the type of work I'm doing, my hands are hurting so bad, I go home crying almost every night. Its my joints. I'm 44 and have never experienced pain like this before (I'm too young!!). I wasn't going to say anything, and just get another job and let it go, BUT, my pain is affecting my life at home; I can't do simple things like wring the water out of my hair, push a full shopping cart at the grocery, open a jar, pick up my child etc.. the list goes on... everyday that I work there, I feel like I'm doing more damage to my hands. But, I need this job until I can find another. I have no idea what to do. Finding another job is easier said than done, I;ve been looking already for a few months. Advice welcome, and thank you.. Signed: Only parent to 5 year old :(

I would not tell you are looking for another job. You sound very caring, but you need to look out for yourself and your child. If they are over working you, you could let them know so you can give them a chance to keep you.

Now I am curious. What exactly are you doing that make your hands so sore?

Do NOT tell him. You can give the 2 week notice and then work 12 hour days to assuage your guilt.

I wouldn't mention it to the boss, but in my downtime, and maybe even at home if I had any time then (ha ha) I'd start writing out a procedures manual for the things that you do that someone coming into your position will need. I worked at a firm where the person before me had done that, and they'd gone through three other new girls before they found me so there was no training from the previous person and that manual was amazing.

No, No, No. Do NOT tell your boss you're looking for another job. You know the old saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". You have no idea how long it will take for you to actually get another job. You're just asking to get fired if you tell them.

It is not your responsibility to stay in a job that hurts you OR let them know you are looking so that they can find someone to replace you before you get another job. You don't need to be screwing yourself here. Give 2 weeks notice after you accept another job.

If you have carpel tunnel syndrome, you might need surgery. You might need to do that before you go get another job.

Good luck.

Don't tell them. Nobody is indispensable, and they will cope just fine without you. I had a staff member who had control of her office, and the staff there did not know how to do her job at all. She had a very bad accident, and they were thrown in at the deep end. They survived, as will the others in your team.

No, don't tell your boss you are looking for another job. You have to haven't either job locked in, sign, and any background and physical checks done.

If you have an incident that you consider to be related to your job, you need to report it right away. If you delay reporting it, they can deny coverage or have less of a percentage applied to the workplace. Make the claim and get the treatment you need.

I have had WC claims (spinal injuries) and recovered way better than before I started. My ex-husband is a controller of a company and part of the background check they run is to see if the applicant has prior WC claims.

You have been looking for a few months and haven't found anything. You may not find something for another few months. Do NOT tell your boss. Otherwise your boss may find someone to replace you before you are ready to leave. FYI...nobody is that indispensable...they will manage when you leave.

Also, see a doctor about your hands.

Don't say anything until you for sure know you have found and been hired somewhere else to work! You say you have been looking for a couple months? What's to say you will find anything anytime soon? If you tell know they could just replace you before you actually find a new job!

Good Luck!

NO WAY! Do not tell them. You have no idea how long it will take you to find new work and you don't want to give your current job any reason to let you go before you're ready. They would not feel guilty screwing you over if it came down to it, so you don't need to feel like you're screwing them over. Two weeks is standard and sufficient. If you feel like you need more, you can always ask the new job - when you're hired - if you can give three weeks instead. Many companies are ok with it, you just have to ask.

report the worker's comp if it's a valid claim. Don't wait. It's only going to get worse.

Good luck. I hope you find a new job quickly.

Hello. Please do not, do not, do NOT tell them. What you're describing to me is very similar to my mom about 5 years ago (in more ways than one). She, too, was doing several people's jobs in her one position. She was heavily relied upon, her hands were hurting her so bad (to the point where she couldn't even open up her oldest grandchild's sippy cup, jars, grip the steering wheel, etc.). Like you, she ended up doing a workman's comp claim, and the doctor actually DIDN'T diagnose it with carpal tunnel (which is what we were all expecting). She was told to begin taking 1 alieve a day to help with the inflammation. Now, I would say that this was a crock, because the company you work for usually can choose which doctor you have to see, BUT she was able to change jobs within a year of the appointment, and here she is about 5 years later and her hands are fine....great...as in little to no problems at all. She has no problems with sippy cups, driving, opening jars, etc. now.

I also know from her experience with the job hunt that it is really tough to find a job in this economy. People didn't care that she was loyal to her previous position for 30 years (she was 50 when she switched jobs). She is happily in a new position now and has been for a few years, but it took a while to get there.

NEVER give your boss advance notice that you are looking for a new job...every person is expendable (sorry...that is sad to say). Plus, you can go from being the favorite to the hated in a short while once you are no longer 'theirs.' Find another job first. Make sure it is secured. THEN let your boss know. :)

I'd give my 2 week notice because this is harming your body. As you age you will start to have long term effects from this. Please think of your son. You don't want to end up on disability from this job.

If you love a job, you tend to give it your all and plus some.
If you don't really enjoy your job, but are already putting in a lot more effort than what was asked, then it is totally not your responsibility to worry about how they'd handle it if you left. That kind of worry is exactly what a manager should have, not an employee.
Take some time off if you can, and look for a better suited job that will keep you happy. When you find one, and after you've signed all the dotted lines, then give the usual 2 week notice to your current boss.
All the best to you for a job search!

Say nothing.

In a word, no. Any time I've seen people give more than two weeks notice, they regret it. Everyone is ready to move on after that time period, and hanging around longer just delays the inevitable transition. I always admire loyalty, but I often find it's misplaced when it's from an employee to an employer. If the tables were turned, they wouldn't hesitate to dump you without notice if they had to. File your claim; get what's owed to you. You owe it to your child to get compensated enough to regain your health.

Talk to a lawyer right NOW about the workers' comp claim. I have no idea if you can leave and then file one, or file one and leave shortly afterward, so you really should get legal advice immediately-- because you are owed that workers' comp money. The job injured you, and you deserve the compensation the law allows.

Do not tell your boss you are planning to leave. Do not give more than two weeks' notice. I have been in situations where I loved the people with whom I worked and felt so guilty about leaving but I still would never have told the boss or given a ton of notice. It sets you up for so many problems I can't even list them all, but the key one is you'd be giving the employer plenty of time for retaliation for your "disloyalty" and plenty of time to find problems to blame on you.

i can't figure out what the advantage would be for you to tell them. it's just that you feel bad for leaving them in the lurch?
you're not. you're doing a difficult job, and ruining your health in the process.
i hope you find another job soon. give them 2 weeks notice when you do, and they'll cope.
seriously.
khairete
suz

DO NOT TELL THEM! I understand you feel some loyalty to them. That is great; however, the company will not feel loyalty to you. Remember that.

Report your injury now. You need to go to the doctor and be evaluated. The company might drag their feet as there isn't an "injury" incident. You didn't fall, cut your hand or anything like that. This sounds like repetitive motions are causing your discomfort. The company could say you did it at home or whatever, just be ready for that.

Keep looking and be quiet. I also think "they wouldn't give me a heads up if their were firing me". So there ya go!

No, BIG NO, never. You feel the way you feel just because you are an honest and loyal person. Your boss will never feel this way if he decides to fire you for any reason. So, do not let him know that you are looking for another job, and the most important: keep looking and prepare yourself mentally to switch and find the job you deserve and need. It is your right, you are doing nothing wrong, just taking care of yourself and your family.
Good luck!!!
Ally :)

No, you do not tell them under any circumstances. I tell you this as someone who was in a management position for years. It's not appropriate to tell them that you're looking, and if you do tell them then you have to be prepared for the working relationship to change significantly if they even agree to keep you employed there.

There are many companies that if they even see that you have an active resume on a job search site such as Monster or CareerBuilder, they'll fire you and they have every right to do it. The reasoning is that if you're actively looking for another job and you've let them know it then your efforts at your current job won't be full effort and your attention will be elsewhere. They'll also assume that any time you take off that's unexpected is time off for interviews, even if you tell them it's a sick day for your child or you're attending a funeral. They don't want to feel as if you're "taking advantage" of your entitled time off that they've given you by using it to find another job. There are many companies that as soon as you officially give your notice will tell you that it's all right, no need to come in again, just pack up your stuff. They don't want people daydreaming about when they won't be there any longer.

The only time that isn't a problem is when the company is issuing layoffs and they grant permission to employees to take time for interviews in days leading up to their job termination (as happened with my husband, and they encouraged him to use up all of his earned time or take it in a pay check).

Since you have the added issue of worker's comp, file that NOW. You have no reason to feel guilty for it if it's an entitlement in your current job. With that issue, you definitely should NOT even consider telling them you're looking for something else actively. So when you do upload your resume online? Remove all personally identifying information from the resume and don't let your name be searchable. Keep your personal information confidential while it's online until and unless you make contact with a company you'll be interviewing with.