How can apply game theory to help me negotiate a better deal?

September 9, 2008 10:45 PM

How can apply game theory to help me negotiate a better deal?

I've handed in my notice, I have a new job to go to.
I gave 4 weeks notice, but on reflection it's going to be a while before I can take an anual leave, I'd like to take my last week as leave (I have accrued enough time)

This is week 2 or 4 of my notice period.

I really don't want to work the last week, I want to spend time with my family.

Management does not want to give me the time off, they want me to use the time dumping my knowledge, and handing over to a contractor who starts next week.

I have a lot of local knowledge of my domain, and losing that knowledge presents a businiess risk, so they want to keep me as long as possible.

Denying me the last week off, demotivates me, so maybe the hand over will be low quality.

If the handover is considered bad, they can give me a unfavorable reference.

They have no way of knowing if the handover is good.

I could do a great handover and they may perceive it to be not good enough.

I have been a hard working, loyal employee, I have agood relationship with the C-Level leaders, I don't want to sour it.

The remaining time is not really enough time to do a great handover anyway.

If I work the last week, they have to pay out my accrued annual leave, if I go early they don't.

I could spend my last week, reading metafilter.


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How might I attempt to model that data, and use game theory to assess various outcomes ?

I would think they would opt to motivate me to do a good hand-over in less time and let me go early, saving some money.

Thanks

posted by matholio to work & money (11 comments total)

Game theory is probably the wrong tool here.

They've already decided what they value: a good handoff.

You've already decided what you value: an extra week of leisure.

You can have that extra week of leisure pretty easily. If today you said "Hey, I need to leave earlier than I thought I would," they really couldn't complain much, given that you'd still be giving the traditional two weeks.

But if you want to keep the extra polish on your image....

They have no way of knowing if the handover is good.

This is probably the real problem. They have no way of knowing, so they figure extra time is a really good idea. What might be most productive for you, rather than spending time messing about with a game model of the problem, is to redefine their conception of a good handover from "one in which matholo spends four weeks" to some reasonable subset of handoff tasks that you know you can achieve in the time between now and when you really want to leave.

From what you've said it sounds like you're the person who really knows what that constitutes anyway, so you have an advantage here.
posted by weston at 11:23 PM on September 9, 2008

Why do you care about the reference when you've already lined up your next job?
posted by moxiedoll at 11:31 PM on September 9, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

If you make any sort of veiled threat to do a sloppy handover -- and that's really required for your game -- I would expect your current employer to fire you on the spot. You would have just moved yourself from the "trusted, loyal employee ensuring a clean transition before moving on" bucket to the "blackmailer who I don't want around my business" one.

Ask your new employer to delay your start date a week and take that week off. No game theory required.
posted by backupjesus at 2:44 AM on September 10, 2008

There are a variety of reasons why game theory won't work here, including some of the formal assumptions re. information. So I would suggest a different line of inquiry.

As it happens, also cannot model the game b/w party A (who wants to figure out how to take a vacation without the employer's assent while preserving in the latter a false impression of the employee's loyalty and honor) and party B (stranger asked to facilitate said maneuver). Or even b/w party A and party A.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 4:22 AM on September 10, 2008

Game theory only works if all the participants are sociopaths or economists.

Just stay home. Jesus, is it really that hard?
posted by Vindaloo at 5:20 AM on September 10, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

Yeah, game theory is inapplicable. You're going to have to use regular old persuasion.

Be proactive. Draw up a 3-week plan showing what you plan to teach your replacement and when. Explain to your boss how this covers everything necessary, and saves them a week's worth of holiday pay because you'll take the last week off. Specifically show them how by the end of the 3 weeks your replacement will be doing your job and you'll basically just be looking over their shoulder and nodding.

This directly addresses the "they can't tell if a hand-off is good or bad" issue (you are taking control, telling them what a good hand-off would be and how you are going to achieve it), and makes you seem like a guy who plans to use his last three weeks at maximum efficiency, rather than a guy trying to skip out on his last five days.

You might also offer to come in for a few hours on your week off, or be available by phone or something, to demonstrate goodwill and reassure them that if something goes really really wrong you'll be able to rescue your replacement.

You definitely don't want to threaten them with the idea that the handover will be of lower quality if you can't get that last week off. It will make you sound whiney and make them doubt the quality of the handover no matter what.
posted by No-sword at 6:43 AM on September 10, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I agree with others here- just let them know the situation has changed and you will leave at the end of week 3 (which is still 1 more than is standard and 3 more than a lot of people would probably give...).
posted by zennoshinjou at 6:54 AM on September 10, 2008

Why not take this week off and do the 4th week with them?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:04 AM on September 10, 2008

I would just stop coming in at the end of the third week. What are they going to do, fire you?
posted by jrockway at 10:04 AM on September 10, 2008

Tell them to get the contractor in sooner. They obviously don't value your time too much if they're sleeping on getting your replacement into the office.
posted by rhizome at 10:04 AM on September 10, 2008

Thanks everyone.

Just to clairfy some points:
- I'm intrested in game theory, that why I wondering if it would useful to see all the options.
The over welming response has been that it isn't appropriate.
- The reason I want a good reference is my next job my not work out, 7.5 years is hard to explain away without a reference.
- The notice period of 4 weeks is pretty normal here (australia).

Anyway, I've just decided to work my notice, do a good handover.
I really would have liked that time off, but I should have planned it better.
I don't want to delay my start date, I've made a commitment and I want to keep it.

I made commitments and I should stick to them, works both way.

I'll get paid out for my accrued leave so there's a silver lining.

Thanks!
posted by matholio at 7:06 PM on September 10, 2008