How do you cope when your boss loses the plot?

Handing in your resignation can be a daunting task. Especially if you know your boss has a temper. Our candidates have very varying experiences at this most stressful time. Quite often they are expecting real problems and it goes very well (perhaps they were pleased to get rid of them anyway). Others, on the other hand, can be surprised at the strength of feeling. This quite often happens when the person resigning is held in particularly high regard by the company. When a really top performer leaves for pastures new and the company can do absolutely nothing about it. Frustration can make people very angry indeed, especially for people who are used to being in control and calling all of the shots. Just think for a while before you hand in your notice. Try and predict what sort of reaction you will get. If you think it could boil over, questioning your loyalty or refusing to accept the inevitable, then it is best to have a plan. It is also best to realise the following:

1. Employers cannot reject resignations.

2. This is a commercial arrangement, just as they can make people redundant, so can you decide to leave them.

3. Your career is even more important to you than the company. Never forget that.

4. You are entitled to be treated with the same dignity now as previously.

5. The company cannot break any terms of your contract just because they are unhappy.

6. You have contractual responsibilities, such as serving out your notice, unless it is mutually agreed differently. As I say, it is a stressful time but prepare yourself in case it goes wrong. Depersonalise the situation, explain that you are not being disloyal to the company you have your own career to follow. Tell them you have your own personal priorities, perhaps you have to relocate, that you will pursue. Generally things quieten down after a few days. But if they become completely unbearable, or even abusive and unreasonable then you may need to get some advice. Approach someone you trust in the organisation first and see if they can support you. If it really goes pear shaped and you feel you have to leave, take legal advice first to see what your options are, though it should never come to that. Good luck