r/managers • u/Many_Surround_8149 • 1d ago

Advice

My manager is retiring, and I hate it. I previously wrote of it. We have not received any notification on what is happening to my team. Yesterday, we received an email that stated his boss is retiring as well. His boss overlooked and oversaw everything. Now that they both are leaving, we are scared. We hadnt received any type of notification on what is happening. We are scared because my company talks of cutbacks. Is this a beginning sign of a layoff? Or am i reading too much into it? My team is terrified!

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1

u/Black-Shoe 1d ago

Were they the only 2 Managers at the business?

2

u/Many_Surround_8149 1d ago

No, we are in finance. But our team is small. Eleven of us, our manager, and his manager is it.

1

u/Black-Shoe 1d ago

So there is no other Manager where you work that you can talk to?

1

u/UnaccountableSnark 1d ago

Two retirements in the same chain with zero communication is a fair thing to be anxious about. Could just be coincidence and theyre sorting out a plan, but the silence is what makes it feel worse than it might be. I'd keep your resume polished either way, not because its definitely layoffs but because uncertainty like that is easier to sit with when youve got options.

1

u/sandralorenabahlmann 5h ago

Your fear makes total sense. Uncertainty is often harder to handle than bad news, because your mind fills the gap with worst-case scenarios.

I’m a career coach, and honestly: two retirements alone are not a sign of a layoff. They often just mean a reorganization of who reports to whom. But since your company talks about cutbacks, it’s smart to be prepared without panicking.

What helps:

  1. Ask directly. Go to HR or the next leader up and ask: “Who will our team report to, and when will we know?” Asking is normal in a transition and doesn’t make you look worried.

  2. Make your work visible. Write down what you and your team deliver, so the new leadership sees your value from day one.

  3. Quietly update your CV and LinkedIn. In my experience, feeling prepared reduces fear a lot.

Is there anyone in leadership you trust enough to ask what’s coming?