Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the business and time management books TimePeace: Making peace with time – The Book of Answers: 105 Career Critical Situations – and I am a business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management, and work-life balance strategies.
This question came from a business professional.
I can see that this is a very difficult decision for you. You can probably see it both ways: Being loyal to the company and Being loyal to a friend.
In my opinion, since the boss is actually asking you to cover the coworker’s shift, his decision to fire her is a done deal. In that case, there is nothing you or your friend can do about this. The best thing you can do for your friend is to help her with her next position.
Therefore, if I would you – I would keep it to myself. You can’t help her keep her job at this company, so there is no reason to jeopardize your job.
What you can do
When your friend does come to you with the news that she is fired and that you are covering her shift, confirm that he did ask you to change shifts, but that he didn’t give you any additional details. Then go immediately into “help mode” for her.
Preparation
Realize that she will find out fairly soon – so prepare.
- Look up any business contacts, friends, family members that might have a position suitable for her
- Update your own resume and highlight some things from your resume with the intention of showing her how she can use these same things on her resume when the time comes
- Update your LinkedIn profile with your current duties, responsibility, and endorsement – with the intention of showing her how she can do that on hers when the time comes
- Prepare a LinkedIn recommendation and endorsements for your friend and offer to be a reference for her – with the intention of submitting them when the time comes
- Investigate local professional organizations, business networking events, job fairs, and business mixers with the intention of accompanying her when the time comes
- Refresh your LinkedIn network connections and start engaging with the more prominent groups and influencers
- Search your LinkedIn network to see if there is anyone there that would be suitable for you to introduce her to when the time comes
- Think of other ways to best position her to find a better job
Move into positive action
When she does come to you with her news (and possibly her accusations), move as quickly as possible into positive action. The quicker you can get her to look toward the future (instead of wallowing in the past), the better. Afterall – you want the best for your friend.
Review the above things with her and ask her what other ideas she can think of that will get her to her next career move.
Career Focus
This might be a great time for both she and you to focus on your career roadmap. Start an open and honest dialog on what both of you see for your careers in the next 5 to 10 years. Create a Career Roadmap that gets you both to where you want to be. This might mean getting additional certifications, degrees, new skills, developing additional softs skills like presentation skills, management skills, problem-solving skills organizational skills, or additional hard skills like coding, tools training, vocational training.
The bottom line is to use this opportunity to help both your friend and yourself on your career development path. If she doesn’t want your help, I would still encourage you to do these things for yourself. Your boss has already demonstrated that he needs to reduce his workforce. You might be next. Best be prepared.
If you need want to discuss in more detail, please setup a one-on-one consult session.
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