Refusing Early Resignation

[eve1974]

Wow this is unexpected…. So gave three months notice but employer looks set to refuse.

I’m stymied- and a bit p*d off.

We ended up asking for 2 months notice instead of 3.

We can of course technically break our contract but…. That wld result in a poor reference

Surprised. Mystified. P*d off.

[Canary42]

Sorry to hear that Eve - sounds a bit spiteful but he may be concerned about getting replacements recruited and trained up to speed (I believe there are two of you involved). I hope it doesn't jeopardise your new job opportunity.

[eve1974]

Yeah - I think it may be because of difficulty of replacement tho if they can’t manage it in 2 months then can’t see what diff 3 will make.

Bizarre.

[eve1974]

By difficulty I don’t mean that we are indispensable- far from it!!! No one ever is.

But rather that they may be using the replacement issue as an excuse.

[webbo3]

What does you contract say ?

[eve1974]

3 months. We knew this. And we requested shorter. Thinking it’s unlikely people will want to keep unhappy staff on but …. Go figure eyc

[curlygirlies]

"3 months. We knew this" so?......Its what you agreed when you took the job so why are you *** off because you have to follow conditions you agreed to at the start of your Contract?

[jno]

did you tell them you were unhappy?

[CheekyChops]

I can see why you might be p*d off, but surprised and mystified? It is in your contract that you have a 3 month notice period and you are fully aware of this so am not sure why you would find it bizzare that they are holding you to it.

[eve1974]

Fair enough curlie…, good point. I just can’t see why they wld insist. Esp if it potentially scuppers another role for us.

But yes their prerogative

[eve1974]

Same answer to cheeky chops. Yeah maybe I’m just surprised.

[eve1974]

Jno - we haven’t no.

They haven’t asked.

We did have a meeting (requested by them) yday but it was bizarre - they kind of skirted around speaking of every other random topic under sun.

[eve1974]

Cheeky n curlie. Yeah I guess you’re right, I shld be surprised. I guess I was naively hoping. Ps we’ve never been in a scenario where we have requested notice to br shortened

[EdmundD]

If your contract says 3 months then he is entitled to hold you to it.

Another factor to consider is that it could well take 3 months to recruit replacements - that doesn't happen in 5 minutes.

Although you say "if they can’t manage it in 2 months then can’t see what diff 3 will make" there is a process - advertising, initial interviews, short list and then maybe the person(s) he wants also have to give notice.

[Maydup]

3 months is an unusually long notice period so indicates a skill set or experience that takes a while to recruit? 3 weeks to advertise, 2 weeks to read the applications, short list and interview, another week to offer, that's 6 weeks gone. Then if the new person has to give 3 months notice to their current job, the employer is already 6 weeks without anyone.

If that's not the case and you're easily replaced then walk, there are loads of unskilled jobs available at the moment.

[eve1974]

Yes good point maydup. I wldnt say we are particularly skilled (maybe we sell ourselves short?) but the line of work requires a particular sort of mindset / attitude so that might impact things.

I realise of course that the contract is the contract so have made peace with having to stay. It’s just tough when we’re unhappy n want to leave tho.

I do think they will be able to find someone sooner - 2 months is enough in my opinion
But hey ho…

[chelle7272]

Your earlier posts said there was someone ready to step into the role. it seems that is not the case, in which case I'm not surprised they are holding you to 3 months. A standard recruitment for our company can easily take 2 months, and they may require you to do handover or training of the new recruit before you go.
You are not expecting the same flexibility from your new employer - i.e. that they will wait the extra month for you, so not sure why you think this is bizarre.
You could try negotiating reduced hours with both employers for that one month?

[eve1974]

Chelle i did say (in my more recent post) that I now see their point.

Yes there is someone to step into part of our role. But not the entire part. (Our role is very varied).

The part of the role this person wld step into is (in our opinion) the most important part - and the part they’d have the most trouble filling.

So with that person in place I honestly believe all the other bits have a work around. I really do.

[eve1974]

But I’m now resigned to the resignation period (pun intended lol)

[Peter Pedant]

tell you new ones
the old one is being obtuse ( but not so much detail)

yeah totally agree about keeping on unhappy staff
resist the temptation to wipe your computer on your last day and that is only because - - - he will know who did it

[eve1974]

I know PP lol I am tempted but will refrain