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I recently requested via email a Friday morning off. I am going to a midnight movie with a friend and would rather not be the walking dead at work the next day.
My boss came back with, “If you are interviewing elsewhere I will jump out of my window. Otherwise it’s OK with me.”
I was a little stunned by this response. This is the second time I’ve been approached by a superior to “make sure I wasn’t looking for another job” in the year and 10 months I’ve been here.
Truth be told, this company is not very forward-looking regarding its younger employees. However, I still don’t think they have a right to ask outright if you are seeking employment elsewhere.
Our company recently went through what corporate is calling a “strategic workforce reduction”. In light of recent events and economic recession, I would think that anyone who isn’t polishing up their resume and networking is a little bit crazy. You cannot depend on your job unless you are self-employed and even then, you just have to cross your fingers and hope that the economy turns itself around, which it will. Eventually.
So I ask you, was this an appropriate question for a superior? I’d like to know what you think.
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Comments
11.19.09
Considering the full range of inappropriate comments I have heard in various places I've worked .. this one is not on the Richter Scale. Maybe if you were interviewing you would feel a twinge of guilt but given that you aren't why not just feel flattered that your boss thinks you are "relatively" indispensible (for now).
11.19.09
If said boss wasn't already somewhat abusive in nature, it wouldn't have had the impact that it did. "No one can hurt you but me" sort of mentality.
11.20.09
I have been stunned by emails from my bosses/coworkers, but after thinking about it I probably would have been relieved by that comment. It never hurts to feel like you're needed. But on the inappropriate side of things, if your boss is sincerely concerned about you leaving or interviewing elsewhere, this was definitely not the way to get you to have a conversation with him about it.
11.25.09
The people in management here are very insecure. They do not cater to the younger demographic at all and are very archaic in their business structure and dealings. Every person they have had here under 35 has left within 2 years and my 2 year mark is approaching in January. They SHOULD be worried, not just about me, but about why their retention of younger employees is sho to hell.
Thank you for commenting and following on Twitter.
P.S. You're in Raleigh and I'm in Durham so we should definitely meet up and have lunch some day soon.
Brianne
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