I'm Leaving: Why Keep it Secret?

In one weeks time, I'll be picking up my P45 and leaving my current employer to head on to pastures new. There. I said it. But I'm not really supposed to. I've been asked to keep quiet about it in the office. As I doubt many of my colleagues ever read my blog, I think I'm safer posting it here than on my Facebook Profile!

The real question is why do I have to keep it to myself? I've done as my directors asked (until now) but I've not really grasped why it is a sensible thing to do. I'm one of those useful people who get involved in my company. I have fingers in many pies as it were. This means I have a lot to hand over to those I leave behind. People haven't had the opportunity to ask me to give them the things they're going to need from me because they simply don't know they need to ask!

I've been doing this work on my own of course, but people have been a little surprised when they have become the sudden recipient of piles of documentation, DVDs with software libraries, VMware license administration rights and so on. A few astute individuals have worked it out from the hints I've given, but I've had to ask them to keep it under their hats; they're in on the conspiracy now too.

I'd much rather have handed in my notice and, once it was confirmed and accepted, sent an email to the whole company. I'd have expected a fair few emails of congratulation and a few more emails asking for stuff. I'll be sending the email next Friday. By then, it'll be too late.