My company has recently begun a restructuring process which will eliminate 1 of the individuals in the same/similar role as me. Even before this announcement I have started looking for another job. My manager who is making the decision about who gets laid off has indicated that it will not be me.
On one hand, I haven't secured another job yet and don't want to be found unemployed, but on the other hand I don't want to leave my company short-handed, and one of my coworkers (who I respect) jobless. I think I have a good chance of landing another job, and telling my boss will prevent those problems and potentially get me a severance package on top of it.
Given the situation, is it appropriate to have an off-record conversation with my manager, or would it be better to keep quiet despite the potential problems to my company until I get a firm job offer?