Employee keeps threatening to leave, what can we do?

[eyeshade]

I work for a very small charity where funds are extremely tight at the moment and we have a part time employee who has constantly threatened to leave throughout the last year. On three separate ocassions she has said she is leaving but has not done so. Is there any recourse for the charity in this matter as we need to move on but we cannot do so, i.e. training, if she is going to leave in a few months. Is there anything we can do within the law that we can ask her to leave now, not when she wants?

[joko]

you can sack someone at any time if you have a good reason.

she is clearly disruptive and not dedicated, so just give her a months notice.

you could even say that you have put her request to leave in motion and she has a month left to work before her request is complete.
if she complains, say you thought that is what she wanted and its too late now

[redcrx]

if she has said this directly to her employer and its not just word of mouth from other staff member then next time she says it say that you accept her resignation. Put it in writing to her that youve accepted it with either a notice period or immediate effect (notice to be paid) and wish her well in her future employment.

[eyeshade]

She did put in writing back in December last year, came back and told us she would be leaving at the end of the year but had the cheek to ask the charity to help fund a course she was going on, which was turned down, now she is saying she is going at the end March but will see a solicitor should anyone try to get her out beforehand. Our CEO already has an old griveance against him and is now extremely frightened to approach her or reprimand her in case she takes out another grievance against him and the other old grievance is a friend of this one!!! (Ooh I hate working in offices!!!) However we need to be sure we are acting in the eyes of the law! Thanks for advise though.

[redcrx]

if she put it in writing then should have been the end to the matter. You could have paid her her notice so that she didnt need to continue from that date and problem solved. try and speak to ACAS on this matter for advice on how to deal with it www.acas.co.uk

[eyeshade]

thanx redcrx, I will check ACAS out.

[Cennet]

Its www.acas.org.uk or try the helpline 08457 47 47 47

It all depends on how long she has worked for you - think very carefully before making any decision to dismiss

[eyeshade]

well general consensus is - do nothing because of the previous todoo's! but if they knew categorically how they stand legally then they may take action but going from previous knowledge, then nothing probably they will just be held to ransome! but forearmed is forewarned! Thanx