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| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Archive : Ethics Q & A Articles : Article |
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Ethics Q & A
June 26, 2006
By Jane Garthson, Mills Garthson & Associates
The dilemma:
My small charity serves a worthy cause and really depends on my work as program coordinator. There are only three other staff members. But there is no career path for me, and after six years it is time for a more challenging role. Should I tell them I am starting to look for a new job?Jane's Response:
I almost always say, "it depends!"
Put yourself into the executive director's shoes. You would want to know as soon as possible, since it could affect:
- the results you commit to (there is bound to be a drop in productivity during a transition) with the board and with grantors;
- the training and development needs of other staff, who may need to cover the role for a while or prepare for a reorganization, something a departure often triggers;
- the budget - any cost savings due to a temporary vacancy are usually outweighed by recruitment and training costs, even if that cost is primarily your time;
- your ability to make efforts to keep a good employee - by the time there is another job offer in hand, it is usually too late; and,
- individual clients, volunteers and co-workers who have developed strong ties to you and depend on you need to prepare for change.
So, in terms of mission achievement, the organization needs to know as soon as you are comfortable with telling.
On the other hand, you might look for years without an offer that appeals to you. It is very difficult to tell co-workers week after week, or month after month, that nothing has come up. Clients and volunteers may find out. You might be cutting yourself off from training opportunities, conferences and other activities that would help your career.
The situation is further complicated by what kind of boss you have. Some will actively help. They do not want an unhappy employee and feel you deserve support given your hard work for the organization. If you stay in the voluntary sector, it is strengthened and maybe they will find a good person that some other organization has developed.
Most will at least help passively, giving honest references when asked and not blocking your opportunities.
Unfortunately, a few bosses feel that an employee who wants to leave is a disloyal employee, and they can make life very difficult. They may even do a preemptory firing rather than let you quit.
Other bad bosses take credit for your skills and efforts, and will be dishonest with potential employers in order to keep you. I watched one senior public servant give bad references to good people, and of course glowing references for those he wanted to get rid of!
You know your boss; I do not.
I strongly advise you to do three things:
- Clarify in your own mind what kind of work and work environment you want in future. That may mean taking some career counseling sessions and aptitude tests, talking to people in your desired field, taking a night course or other actions. Make sure you know what you want, and whether it is a field with opportunities in your community (or whether you are prepared to move).
- Unless you have a really bad boss, let that person know that you need more challenges, and what kind of challenges you seek. Perhaps there are some pending projects that could suit your needs, or better prepare you for a future move. If not, then you have been honest about your need for change and no one will be surprised that you are looking around. And you may get some good feedback about your readiness to assume more responsibility, along with an offer to pay for skills training.
- Be honest if asked about your job search. If you are fired for it, it was a pretty poor place to work anyway, and you may have a case for unjust dismissal.
You may wish to test the market to find out if there is interest in you. If you are called for an interview, that could be the time to become more open about your search.
Remember that most prospective employers will become suspicious if you do not use your current boss as a reference. They know it means you are job hunting without letting the boss know and/or that you would not get a good reference. Neither assumption will reflect positively on you.
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Because nonprofit organizations are formed to do good does not mean they always are good in their own practices. Send us your ethical questions dealing with volunteers, staff, clients, donors, funders, sponsors, and more. Please identify yourself and your organization so we know the questions come from within the sector. No identifying information will appear in this column.
To submit a dilemma for a future column, or to comment on a previous one, please contact help@charityvillage.com. For paid professional advice about an urgent or complex situation, contact Jane directly.
Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.
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