Should I tell my boss that I plan to leave my job in just under a year's time?

[IsThisABadIdea]

I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out first!

I'm planning to set myself up as a freelance and in order to do so I need to take some time out to get some training. I have found a course that I think would be right for me, and I am eagerly starting to plan for the BIG CHANGE. The course starts next October and will last nearly a year. After this I plan to launch my business properly.

I am hoping that my current employer might help me out a bit on this. I plan to propose a deal whereby they could pay for me to take the qualification in exchange for a year's free freelance work. I've done the figures and think this could be a bit of a win-win situation for both of us.

I have my appraisal this week and I am very tempted to put this proposal forward to my boss. My boss is lovely and has always been a bit of a friend and mentor - not just a boss. I know he will be disappointed by my planned departure even though it isn't for another year. I want to start planning my next move but would it be madness to let my employer in on my plans so soon? Could it affect our working relationship? Would it be a really bad idea?

Any advice much appreciated...

Morally, it's probably the right thing to do. BUT if you were working for me, i would probably think twice about paying for lengthy training for an employee who was planning on leaving.

And how would you live freelancing for free for a whole year? Also it may depend where you work, but i think a lot of places may put some contract in place where you have to pay for training if you leave within a certain time.

Why not do the training and stay employed for the year afterwards, to get more experience and build up contacts?

Just my opinon tho'

I plan to propose a deal whereby they could pay for me to take the qualification in exchange for a year's free freelance work.

There's no way I would approach my boss with this suggestion (yes, even if you have a more familiar relationship than the normal employee-employer setup). Aside from signing a water-tight legal document which ties you to that promise, I can't see it working; and if the relationship is as you suggest it is, I can imagine this suggestion would put your boss in a very uncomfortable position, having to ensure that the legal obligations on you (to not go back on your promise) are in place.

I honestly can't see that it's that much of a "win" for your current employer. I certainly would never, ever agree that the situation as described warrents such an open and honest share of information with your boss.

By all means go for the training, and ensure that you don't have to re-pay training costs if you leave within X amount of time after training completion, and ensure a smooth handover of tasks... but don't tell your current boss of your career plans - they'll look on it as losing a valued member of staff first, and possibly a small win second. If they don't look at it that way, they're not a very good boss, frankly.

I really wouldn't! Not a god idea at all
IMO.

I would never let my employer in on my long term plans unless they have truly earned that kind of respect ( a rare employer IME). It's none of their business frankly until it comes to the required notice period.

Thank you everyone. I'll keep schtum at the appraisal then. The training is 30 hours pw - no way can I combine that with working too! It also costs 4k (first year of degree). Looks like I may have to fund it myself! Shame as the uni does an employer discount and I thought this might be a good idea. If I did it pt I'd be looking at a V stressful two years of combining training with work, and the thought of staying with current company for that long plus any obligatory hanging around makes me lose the will to live!

No way. I'd never agree to such a deal.

An enlightened employer would normally agree to pay for such courses on the understanding that you take an unpaid sabbatical and then promise to come back to work for somewhere between 2-5 years (varies) afterwards, and that if you leave before then you have to pay all the money back.

What you are proposing wouldn't float anyone's boat to be honest.

Saying that, I think there is no harm in saying at the appraisal that you believe you are being stifled at the moment and have been looking at ways to progress and for example have been thinking about perhaps taking a year out at some time to take a course. See how the conversation goes as he may then come up with suggestions that work for you both.

no, circumstances can change in a year. better keep your options open.

OK thanks for your feedback everyone.

I am going round in circles trying to decide what to do!

Ultimately, it boils down to money: firstly, how to pay for the course; secondly, how to survive financially while studying and setting up my new business.

I agree that if my ultimate goal is to set up as an independent, that my company is likely to fund me through my degree as I am effectively doing it to work my way out of my job!

My boss is nice - but probably not that nice!

However if I am going to do the course pt, while also working (pt as I currently am) then the company is going to benefit from my skills, a lot of which I am currently gaining through my job already and as a consequence I have saved the company £000's this year.

Part of me just feels like grasping the nettle. Find the money, do the course ft and start up my new business ASAP! My safe side says I should try to study pt alongside working, starting February and finishing in a couple of year's time. If I do this, I need to enrol in the next couple of weeks in order to get a considerable early registration discount.

Aaaaargh... sorry I'm rambling. Just completely at a cross roads and unable to think straight. Appraisal on Thursday.

Sorry - my company is un likely to fund my degree

Although the company may benefit from your skills, if they haven't identified it as a need on their part, then I don't see any justification to support it (in time or money). I've been asked on several occasions to support (with limited public funding) to fund people through all sorts of training, simply for individuals to have continuing professional development for their own means.

I have to say no unless there is a clear identified need within the organisation. We also state that people will pay back the cost if they leave within a certain timeframe.

It sounds to me very much like this is something you want to do, for your own benefit, so I'd forget all thought of any support, whether the company will, as a consequence, benefit or not.

Hmm, actually Hairy it is a need of the organisation. They used to outsource what I want to do at considerable expense. When I joined I was a somewhat rare case in that I had relevant experience in that field along with the experience needed for the job I was brought in for. I have also always had the desire to learn more, thus since taking on the position I have brought all this inhouse and it actually takes up quite a lot of my hours, so much so that they have had to be increased. This represents excellent VFM.

The organisation has acknowledged this and my boss frequently refers to my excellent work and 'value' to the Senior Management Team.

Sorry if I seem a bit cryptic but I have recently learned that a colleague uses MN and I would hate to be outed!

Has the company identified it as a need and asked you to do the training?