How Do I Tell My Boss?

Nurses Career Support

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

I am an RN of 25 years who has been working at my present job for 14 months. It's a decent job, I don't hate it, I don't love it, but I have an extremely supportive and kind supervisor. What makes this unique is that my supervisor is in a different city hundreds of miles away and I have never met her face to face, only communicated via phone and email.

Anyway, this is a small company and does not offer healthcare benefits. My family recently lost our benefits through a job loss on my husband's part and we cannot afford the COBRA or ACA options, which for a family are well over $1,000/month. I am in a position where I have to find a job ASAP that offers affordable healthcare. I put out some feelers and I have an interview with a huge, national company with very good benefits next week. Had the benefit issue not come up, I would not be leaving my current job, partly because my supervisor is so nice.

Here's the hard part: she is always telling me how valuable I am to the company and how much she appreciates my work...how in the world do I tell her that I am going to be leaving as soon as I find something with benefits? I don't feel like I can tell her over the phone, but I can't find the right words to send an email either. I would kind of like to give her a heads up before I give a two week notice, but...how??

I have already considered every option and am definitely going to leave, so I don't need any suggestions on ways to stay with the company, I need advice on how to leave in a nice, gentle way!

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Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.

Just tell her your story.

Honestly, she'll understand your reasons given the way you describe her. And let her know how much you appreciate her

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Specializes in Hospice.

Hand carry the letter of resignation and tell her face to face of your decision. Before you tell any other co-workers. It's about respect, I think.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Just submit the resignation with the required amount of notice. I do not see why you are feeling bad or guilty over making this move. The needs of your family come first. As nice as your supervisor is, I can rest assure she will not lose sleep over your departure from the company.

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When you have a new job offer, if I was feeling as you do I think I would say something like: "Unfortunately, our family have had a change of circumstances, and it is necessary for me to have a position with benefits, so I am giving X weeks notice as I have found a new position," and then go on to mention how much you have appreciated being employed with the company.

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Just be straight with her. As a Manager I always respect staff that put their families at the top.

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Is there any chance if you explained the situation she might be able to find a way to get you a benefitted position? If you are that valuable to her maybe she would be able to pull strings to get you some benefits? Just a thought.

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Hand carry the letter of resignation and tell her face to face of your decision.

I think she said the supervisor is hundreds of miles away. That would be the best option, but I don't think it is practical in this circumstance.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Duplicate threads have been merged.

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