How To Deal When You’re Leaving Your Work Wife/Husband For Another Job

So, you’ve committed the ultimate dog act and plan to abandon your work bestie for another gig.

First of all, congrats. Leaving your job for a new one isn’t always easy and it must be a good one if it’s forced you to leave your perfect, beautiful angel of a work wife/husband behind.

It’s fucking tough, man. When you click so well with someone you work with, it makes rocking up each day infinitely better, because even if you’re having a shitty day, feeling down or just need someone to escape for a coffee run with, they’re always there. It can totally feel like a breakup, it’s the end of an era!

So if you’re the one doing the leaving, here’s how to do it right.

Cry

That’s it, that’s the list! Thanks for reading! Bye!

It’s totally fine to get upset about leaving your number one behind. I mean, going from spending 40+ hours a week with someone to not knowing the next time you guys will hang out is legit terrifying. So if you’re up for a little tear, go for it!

But not for too long, crying is ugly and dehydrating.

Break The News Correctly

Now when you quit your job, you’re often sworn to secrecy until the wider company or business is informed. But let’s be real, your work wife/ husband has probably been across it all along.

Think of it this way, if they decided to abandon you, would you want the news broken to you in an all staff meeting? Didn’t think so. Pull them aside a few minutes beforehand or go for coffee and let them know — it’s best they hear it from you.

Make A Bucket List

The end is nigh!

Is there anything the two of you want to check off your working-together-bucket-list? Maybe there’s a lunch spot you and your work wife/husband have always wanted to try, a final lap of all your favourite coffee spots, a cry in each other’s arms, or drink wine together in the fetal position — it’s totally customisable to you and your needs!

It’s a cute way to spend time together, but will also give you both a little closure.

It’s A Transition, Not A Breakup

I’ve lost so many colleagues in the last 18 months, that I have now leant fully into the separation anxiety. I feel nothing at this point.

Nah, but seriously, it’s easy to think the other person is dying, and that you’ll never see them again but that’s simply not the case. Think of it as a transition from work friends to real-life friends. It’s just the evolution of your friendship — something to be celebrated, not mourned!

Of course friendships in the adult world take work, but if y’all love each other you will make it happen.

Go Out In Style

Get drunk, have a fancy dinner, go to karaoke — do something with all your work mains and go out in style. It’ll make your last day something y’all can look forward to, not cry about.

Okay, there might be some drunken crying but it’s your party and you’ll cry if you want to, bitch.

Organise A Post-Working Together Catch Up Now

Get your calendars out right now, and schedule a hang out session that falls on a date after your departure.

That way it won’t be goodbye, it’ll be, “see you on this date that we predetermined and won’t flake on because we are totally put-together adult humans who are able to commit to a date and show up”.

Leaving your work wife/husband behind sucks, but it’s just one of those many things about being a grownup that sucks and you’ve gotta do it.. like laundry or having to kiss your Aunty on the cheek at Christmas even though she’s a total bitch.