To have expected there to be a handover?

[TigersAndLionsRoar]

I’m going on adoption leave for a year from the first week of December. I’m a senior member of staff, my work are saying that there won’t be an official/formal handover between me and the person (she’s currently working for the same company but in a different department) who will be covering my job when I’m off. I had expected there to be a handover and as part of that I would also talk her through the projects that I’m working on and what needs doing and what has already been done as well as other things. But my work are saying that they’re will be no handover and that she will just be expected to start covering my job when I go and leave, no handover or another. I think this is really poor practice to be honest. I know it’s not really any of my business what happens whilst I’m on leave but I’ve worked really hard on these projects and expected that I would be able to hand them over properly when I go on leave instead of her just taking my job over and continuing to work on these projects without her having any information on them whatsoever, I feel quite nervous to be honest about handing my projects over to someone who hardly knows anything about them due to the lack of a handover. Is it normal for there not to be a handover of any sort in these situations? AIBU to have expected a handover? They literally just want me to go on leave and then the next day she starts covering my job and managing these projects without her having any information about them and no handover or anything so that’s why I’m surprised that there’s not going to be any official handover between us or anything. It all just screams very poor practice to me, normally the company is good and very well run in my experience though besides this lack of handover. Also, there are other external companies involved with these projects that it would be good for me to introduce her to as well before she starts covering my role but I can’t because of the lack of any handover between us.

Let it go now - just leave the document. You have suggested and asked, they have said no. And to be honest, if I were the person taking over from you, I would much prefer to have a document to refer to. If you were telling me things I might understand at the time, but then forget. I also think it would be information overload. A document is much better in my view.

Now go and enjoy your child/children!

I would expect you to put together a comprehensive handover document. With contact details for relevant people, and timeliness.

And a detailed position on each project and other pieces of work.

That way whoever takes over has all the information in writing.

I wouldn't expect to communicate all this verbally. But in writing.

I'm currently on mat leave and im a senior manager. I wrote a very detailed handover document, did a handover meeting with my manager where we went through it all and then he got my cover up to speed after I had gone on leave. Plus my team could fill in some of the detail that wasn't appropriate for my manager to get involved in. I think if you have asked several times and have been told no handover, then you shouldn't push it but by putting together a document, you can ensure all the information is there in writing.

This feels very important now, but trust me that when you go on leave, you really won't care about work or the projects. Its hard to imagine when you are still in work but after about a week, i had totally adjusted. I love my job, I work really hard and conscientiously in a job i am passionate about. But for both my mat leaves, it has been like work just doesn't exist.

Wishing you all the very best for the new addition to your family.

Are they definitely covering your post with this person. Leave them to it. Email HR reinforcing that you have left some info despite being instructed it wasn’t needed. You have a paper trail. Good luck with your new little one.

I would say - make the handover as detailed and explanatory as you possibly can, according to time constraints, and also offer a handover chat if time allows.

I don’t know where you work or what you’re involved in, but I think that if I were you I would also be prepared to return in a year’s time with a lot of stuff not very much moved on.