Firing Tip Off, To Tell or Not to Tell
In a truly professional environment, word that a colleague is being fired should never trickle down to your level. It's business between the big wigs and the person being released from their duties - that's it. In the real world, however, it doesn't seem to work out that way. In this day and age of full disclosure (aka diarrhea of the mouth) you might get word before your poor colleague does. This puts you between a rock and a hard place. Do you tip them off or keep your lips sealed and plead the fifth?
I made the mistake of pulling the ol' "between you and me" at my first job many years ago. What a mistake. But a lesson learned.
I posed this question to the wisdom-filled folks trolling around on Yahoo Answers. Here's what a few people had to say:
*If the person is being fired on unreasonable grounds it is up to THEM to seek justice through the legal system. You are not responsible for their job just as they are not responsible for your job. If you stick your neck out for someone else, you had better be sure that it is the right thing to do. The ramifications can affect you for some time to come.
*I wouldn't {[say anything], because they could become hostile and do something to hurt someone or themselves. At least they won't have a "plan" if they are surprised by it.
*DO NOT tell anyone. It is legally none of your business and you can cause problems with your career if you do tell someone. There are lots of reasons why people are terminated. What may sound as not reasonable grounds may only be a portion of the real reason. If you want to do your co-worker a favor after she is terminated urge her to get an employment lawyer to review her termination.
My mom always taught me that a real friend knows when to keep their mouth shut. Words like "between you and me" or "I'm only telling you for your own good," etc. are a warning sign that maybe you shouldn't say what you're about to say. Your colleague is likely beyond the point of no return, so if you care about your job, zip it.
Now it's your turn. Under what circumstances would you tip off a co-worker if you found out they were getting a pink slip?
Andrew G.R.
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I think that's a special case, though, since he was a founder and also basically my boss. When you're talking about co-workers? No way, no how, never say anything. First of all it's not helping them in any way, it's not like you're saving them from being fired, you're just warning them. Second, it's too easy for your name to come up -- "Yeah, I know, Andrew already told me". Or worse you get the info wrong and suddenly its "But Andrew told me something different!" In either case, you're screwed.
Another viewpoint is that if my "friend" gets upset with me later when they find out I could have warned them is that I tell them "I was honoring my word to not say anything, which is something I'd do for you if you told me something in confidence as well."