When Your Boss Breaks Up With You(r Department)

Her office had been dark all week and the door locked. Text messages and phone calls bounced back. Rumors were beginning to whisper around the halls - "She quit, you know?" "Let's wait until we hear something official." "Someone in Scheduling found out and now they're telling everyone." "What are we going to do if our boss is AWOL?"

Today my department received word that our boss, the Director of Interpreter Administration, had very suddenly and without warning resigned from her position. Even though we were all on very good and amiable terms with her, she did not see fit to alert us to this decision. She did, on the other hand, mention it to someone in a different department. Rumors spread like wildfire. And the kicker? We, her actual department, were the last to know. Embarrassing.

I have a lot of feelings right now.

Shock. Confusion.

Anger. Betrayal.

Fear. Anxiousness. Uncertainty.

Resignation.

Exhaustion.

I'm not the only one - we've been having a lot of impromptu meetings (conversations huddled around the front desk, really) about the future of our department, our own job security, and the beast that is the Director of Operations now lording - hopefully temporarily - over us.

So, how do you deal when your boss 

breaks up with you(r department)?

1.) Stay Calm. Breathe. Bite your tongue if you get the urge to say anything reactionary.

2.) Find a safe place to vent your feelings. Call your mom, send an email to a friend, get a drink after work and regale the bartender with the whole story.

3.) Discuss your concerns. Professionally, amongst your colleagues and higher ups. Ask questions about what will happen going forward and who to report to in the interim.

4.) Practice some self-care. This is a stressful time. Have a glass of wine. Indulge in a new Netflix series. Break in your gym shoes. Have a spa day.

5.) Do your job. Just because your boss bailed on her work doesn't mean you get to. Keep your nose to the grindstone and do what it is you come into work every day to do.


Has a member of management or important colleague of yours ever quit very suddenly? How did you take it and what kind of fallout did your company experience? Inquiring minds want to know!