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I think besides bringing things as close to completion as you can, if you have any time for it, you also need to catalog your work for anyone who may take it up in the future. Give them a directory list of where the documents are stored, who they are done for, what their purposes are, etc. Also leave a synopsis of any unique formatting conventions or production methods you used. Like leave a note for the future that you always used document property fields to insert variables and things like that.
On the group that badly needs help with a customer guide, I think the best thing for them would be to go the route of completing the work except for updating the graphics. That updating is probably the easiest change to make there, so they should be able to handle that themselves (if you give them good directions about what screen caps to make).
As far as when to leave - cap it at January 2nd, the last day you actually get paid for. I realize things may be left undone, but that's the company's problem. If they're greatly concerned about having documentation left undone, they shouldn't have gotten rid of you, right? For the next time the company has to think about laying off another writer, do not set the dangerous precedent of working for nothing. And, having you around after that could be a bit of a mental problem for some people, and may become one for you. When there's a change like this it's usually better for people to leave quickly because then they get started more quickly on getting used to the new situation. There's an old saying "It's no kindness to hang a man slowly."
> From: TECHWR-L Administrator <admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com>
> Subject: FWD: When to leave?
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Date: Friday, November 28, 2008, 9:02 AM
> Forwarded anonymously on request--please reply to list only.
> Thanks!
> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have a question for the list. I was laid off in a mass
> layoff a few
> weeks back, and they are treating us as employees until the
> first of the
> year when the severance package will start, so I will be
> paid my regular
> wages until Jan 2. We were told that we could leave when we
> finished our
> work, and most everyone has turned in their computer and
> badge and gone.
>
> As the sole tech writer, there is no one for me to turn my
> projects over
> to, and there is, of course, no definitive moment when I
> would be
> "finished" with my work. Most of my projects were
> always done for other
> departments (not the one I report to) and there is no one
> who has an
> overview of my work.
>
> I would still like to complete a how to guide for the
> customer manuals
> and
> for the custom and standard online help, and there is one
> group that
> badly
> needs help with a customer guide that I agreed to work on
> with the
> understanding that my time was short. I can turn over a
> partial guide
> that
> will need updated screenshots and procedures, or I can hang
> around to
> make
> a guide that is nearly completed. There is also a chance
> that I can
> continue to work as a contractor for a different department
> (same
> projects) after the first of the year.
>
> When do I leave, and when do I become a
> "stalker?" By staying longer,
> will
> I be earning brownie points, or will I make everyone even
> more
> uncomfortable (post layoff stress syndrome)?
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Anonymous
>
> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
> Forwarded anonymously on request--please reply to list
> only. Thanks!
>
>
>
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HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
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authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
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