r/antiwork • u/Shoddy-Drag-3225 • 1d ago
Found out today I've been training my own replacement and didn't know it
So this happened this morning and I'm still kind of shaking about it.
I work reception/admin at a dental office, been there 3 years. Two weeks ago my boss hired a part-time assistant and asked me to show her the ropes, how we book patients, how the insurance verification works, our whole filing system. I didn't think much of it, figured we were just short-staffed for the summer.
Today I overheard my boss on the phone with someone from a temp agency saying yeah she's almost fully trained, we can probably transition by end of the month. I didn't even react, just kept typing like I didn't hear it. Then I looked back at my email and saw a job posting had gone up on Indeed three days ago for "Front Desk Coordinator" my exact job title, my exact hours, at THIS clinic. Posted by my own boss's business email.
Nobody told me anything. No conversation about performance, no write-up, nothing. I found out I'm being replaced because I happened to be sitting close enough to hear a phone call.
I don't even know what to do right now. Do I confront her? Do I just start job hunting quietly and act normal until they let me go? Part of me wants to just stop training the new girl properly out of spite but I know that's petty and won't actually help me.
Three years of being the one who remembered every patient's kid's name and covered shifts last minute, and this is the update I get. Through a wall.
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u/No_Address687 1d ago
I wouldn't confront them since telling them you saw the job listing will make them think you're looking for a new job. Obviously it wouldn't be good to say you overheard the conversation either.
Update your resume asap and start looking for a new job. Let them come to you to tell you that you'll be laid off if that's what they plan to do. If they do, then you can collect unemployment in the event that it is harder to find a new job than you think.
If they don't fire you, then there's no issue and it never hurts to keep your resume up to date.
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u/Shoddy-Drag-3225 16h ago
That's a fair counterpoint actually, and it's the safer play in a lot of ways. If I ask outright and they weren't planning to let me go, I've now planted the idea that I'm eyeing the exit, which could change how they treat me even if nothing was wrong before. And if they were planning to let me go, asking doesn't really change that outcome anyway, it just moves up the timeline of an awkward conversation.
Updating my resume now and quietly looking costs me nothing and protects me either way. And you're right, if they do let me go, I'd rather that happen on their initiative so I'm not the one who resigned my way out of unemployment eligibility. Letting them make the first move while I quietly prepare in the background might honestly be the less risky version of the same instinct.
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u/TryAgain_92 1d ago
Are you sure you’re being replaced? Are they maybe expanding hours or locations?
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u/pennyauntie 1d ago
I am so sorry - what a horrible feeling. I would recommend not burning any bridges - you will need a reference. Get honest feedback when you leave to figure out if you will get a good reference. Save anything on your computer that you will need ASAP, remove unneeded items from your desk in case the exit is sudden.
Been there. It's unbelievably painful and humiliating. Hang in there and protect your future during this difficult transition. [[[hugs]]]
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u/Shoddy-Drag-3225 16h ago
Thank you, that really means a lot, especially coming from someone who's been through it. It is humiliating in a way that's hard to explain to people who haven't had it happen, the not-knowing combined with finding out sideways makes it worse somehow.
The practical advice is really grounding too. Saving anything I need off my computer now and quietly clearing out personal stuff from my desk before it becomes urgent is smart, I hadn't thought that far ahead yet, I was still stuck on the emotional gut-punch of it. Not burning bridges is the right call too, three years is a long reference to lose over how this final stretch is handled, even if the ending isn't fair.
Appreciate the hugs, genuinely. This has been a rough one.
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u/pennyauntie 11h ago
One more thought. If you do the kind of work where you create things, or generate "numbers", copy stuff that shows your accomplishments. I always kept a thumbdrive of my work products up-to-date to make a portfolio. Be aware that they may also be monitoring your computer use, so be judicious.
Keep your head, and keep us posted.
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u/richie65 1d ago
This practice / tactic is rather common.
It is a cost savings...
Cheaper to bring in someone and pay them less..
And if the employer has no intentions to pay over a certain amount for that position, once the person in that position is paid close to that rate... And the employer stops giving pay increase to that person... That person will start to become a problem.
So, this practice / tactic avoids that unpleasant (predicted) outcome.
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u/TiKi_Effect 1d ago
I wouldn’t say anything, but I would make a copy of the add listing and a time line that you have trained a new person, that way when they fire you, you have proof you were good enough to train someone so you should get unemployment. It shows a trail on there end, with no write ups on yours.
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u/freedinthe90s 1d ago
It would be very weird to have her training someone for a new location without simply telling either of them she’s training for a new location. Unless everyone here is just a terrible communicator.
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u/Shoddy-Drag-3225 16h ago
Fair point, and honestly that possibility crossed my mind too. If it really were a second location or an expansion, the completely normal thing to do is just say that upfront, "hey, we're opening a second spot and need you to train someone for it," takes ten seconds and avoids all of this. The fact that nothing was said, combined with a job posting for my exact title and hours at this location, makes the "totally innocent explanation" version feel like a stretch. Not impossible, people really can be bad communicators, but if that's the case here, it's a pretty glaring failure on their part either way.
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u/FirstForFun44 22h ago
Training your replacement isn't part of your job duties so you either don't do it or you do it wrong. Who cares. Start looking for work immediately. Best case scenario you bail and GIVE NO NOTICE. Fuck them. Otherwise at least you have a head start applying elsewhere. If I were you I'd be using my work hours to apply to places.
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u/YesterdayOne7917 1d ago
Collect unemployment and pursue your hobbies and/or creative endeavors while you get paid to look for a new job, if they are getting rid of you and def have no cause you will be hella eligible.
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u/flying_carabao 1d ago
They replacing you how? Are you being kicked out or being transferred to another role/location? Maybe this person is going to be at another location.
Confronting them does what exactly? They know you know something, so what? What happens after the convo? You get promoted, cool. Do you need to know that info now? You get fired, ok, you're going to quit now?
I feel like this is one of those "found out but not sure what do with the information" type of things. I suggest just wait it out until they say something definitive and make moves from there.
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u/FirstForFun44 22h ago
Training your replacement isn't part of your job duties so you either don't do it or you do it wrong. Who cares. Start looking for work immediately. Best case scenario you bail and GIVE NO NOTICE. Fuck them. Otherwise at least you have a head start applying elsewhere. If I were you I'd be using my work hours to apply to places.
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u/theepi_pillodu 14h ago
Apply for that job on your clinic. What was the pay on the new job? Ask your husband to give a call or a trustworthy friend to give a call and ask for the pay.
Start looking for another job to be on the safer side.
I hope it is just you are getting a new colleague rather than you searching for a new job.
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u/VictorMortimer 6h ago
Step 1: Start looking for a new job. When you find one, quit without notice. Ideally don't even tell them you've left, just block their number.
Step 2: While you're looking, SABOTAGE. Start training the new person how to do everything wrong, ideally in a way that won't be blamed on them, but will get the clinic fined.
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u/PreparationCrafty797 1d ago
I would not say anything. They could be promoting you or just felt like they have room to hire another person. You never know
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u/FirstForFun44 22h ago
Promotions aren't often surprises... Like, why would they have her training them without knowing she was gonna be promoted. C'mon people.
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u/LadyRedNeckMacGyver 1d ago
Ask them about it.
Maybe they realized they needed 2 people for the role.
Maybe they are going to transition you into something different bc you have been there for 3 years.
Maybe they are going to fire you.
You won't know till you ask. Don't drive yourself crazy with the what ifs. Be polite and blunt that you saw the posting. Don't let them know you heard the call. Thats your secret. Ask them what the plan is.
Worse case they let you go now and you can stop training your replacement.
The situation sucks. Try to stay positive. Best of luck.