What should I include in a handover note before taking leave from a Korean workplace?
Consider a foreign employee in a small company in Cheongju who has approval to take a few days off. Before leaving, they want colleagues to see which tasks are finished, which deadlines are approaching, and who can handle urgent questions. Is it better to share a short written handover with the whole team or first agree on coverage with the manager?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Agree on coverage with your manager first, then share a short written handover with the colleagues who need it. This lets the manager confirm priorities and ask the proposed cover person whether they can take on the work. Sharing it with the whole team is useful only if everyone needs that information; use your team's normal channel and avoid circulating confidential client or personnel details unnecessarily.
For each active task, include its current status, the next action, the deadline, the person covering it, and a link to the relevant file or conversation. Clearly separate completed work from pending decisions and flag anything that may become urgent during your absence. Include the dates you will be away and the agreed escalation contact. Ask your manager and cover colleague to acknowledge the handover before you leave.
You could write: 'Before my leave, could we confirm who will cover these tasks? I will then share a brief handover with the relevant colleagues, including deadlines and file links.' Do not promise to monitor messages while away unless you have agreed to do so. Practices vary by manager and company; there is no single handover style that applies to every Korean workplace.