Navigating Job Offers: How to Resign Respectfully While Traveling with Your Boss?

Hello all, and thank you in advance for any insight. Presently, I work for a regional retail chain. We are small enough (<500 employees company-wide) where the owner fulfills key duties and holds a regular 50-hour week. During the past month, I was approached by a different company, and we engaged in a series of interviews. I was advised by the hiring manager that they are deciding between two of us and to expect contact in a couple of days.

Here are the complications:

1. I will probably get the news on Tuesday when the owner of my current company will be in transit to Dallas. My flight leaves on Wednesday. We will be attending an annual convention together in Dallas next week, and I return to the office again on Tuesday. After the convention, she is going on vacation for two weeks with her family.

2. The hiring manager supports two weeks' notice but was clear they felt offering more notice (three or four weeks) was outside their comfort zone. I know my current employer will want 30 days; I don't want to burn a bridge, and they need someone in my role.

3. My relationship with the owner is good; however, she has taken this kind of news VERY personally in the past from others in my strata.

4. My desire is to be respectful and cause injury to no one.

Finally, my questions (thank you for reading this far):

1. If I get an acceptable job offer on Tuesday, do I board the plane on Wednesday?

2. How long can I put them off before accepting? We already talked hard numbers, vacation policy, benefits packages, etc.

3. When do I tell the boss? At the hotel over our continental breakfast? First day / Last day?

4. How much notice do I give? If the new company wants to hire me, does one week make that much difference?

Thank you again,

Remy

You have asked four questions. From my side, I have given replies in italics:

1. If I get an acceptable job offer on Tuesday, do I board the plane on Wednesday?

Comments: Allowing you to board the flight or not is a decision that your boss has to make. Secondly, your visa and hotel arrangements might have already been made. Furthermore, you must have done a lot of preparatory work to make your foreign tour successful. Therefore, at this stage, backing out would not be advisable.

2. How long can I put them off before accepting? We already talked hard numbers, vacation policy, benefits packages, etc.

Comments: Try to extract as much notice period as possible. Your current company should be given time to arrange your replacement.

3. When do I tell the boss? At the hotel over our continental breakfast? First day / Last day?

Comments: The news of your exit from the company will coincide with your foreign tour. However, as soon as you get a firm offer, you should submit your resignation.

4. How much notice do I give? If the new company wants to hire me, does one week make that much difference?

Comments: Your notice period should be as per the terms of the appointment letter given to you. Nevertheless, your company has placed great faith in you, and they are sending you on a foreign visit too. There could be follow-up work once you return. Complete the follow-up work and create as many video presentations as possible for your successor.

Additional Comments:

Your concern is that your boss does not take news of anyone's resignation lightly. However, whether to handle employee resignations through heart or head is her choice. Secondly, it appears that your deep involvement in the work is posing a challenge to you. One should be deeply involved in the work. But if you were looking for a better opportunity, then you could have been a little detached from your peers, boss, etc. It appears that you are also equally attached to the organization. This is yet another challenge.

All the best!

Regards, Dinesh Divekar