Leaving before notice period ends (gracefully)
Discussion
I have recently accepted a formal job offer from a new employer and handed my 3 months notice in at my current employer (yes 3 months). I was contemplating handing in 1 months notice but decided against it as I didn't want the potential stress/anxiety it could've caused (my new employer is very stringent on pre-employment checks, security clearance etc).
Just out of curiosity, has anybody ever done this? (I expect many have). And if so, what came of it from the employer? Did the new employer find out? Did they care?
Just out of curiosity, has anybody ever done this? (I expect many have). And if so, what came of it from the employer? Did the new employer find out? Did they care?
Edited by S9JTO on Tuesday 7th November 15:55
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Leaving early often works for both sides.
Employer may become suspicious of employee, employee might find it hard to be motivated etc.
Very true and based on seeing former colleagues hand in their 3 months notice and only having to work 1/2 months I thought my manager would've allowed me to do the same. However he said due to the time of the year it'll be difficult to recruit etc which is fair. Except he just hired two new engineers and I have only been with the company for one year!Employer may become suspicious of employee, employee might find it hard to be motivated etc.
I think I'm going to let the dust settle for a week and then ask nicely again (forgot to mention I slipped a line in my resignation letter asking if he'd be flexible with the notice period to which he responded with the above).
S9JTO said:
omniflow said:
You can't "decide against it" - if your notice period is 3 months, then it's 3 months.
I don't think you've understood my question properly - I decided against giving less than 3 months. I did infact adhere to my contracted notice period.limpsfield said:
Strange turn of phrase, saying you “decided against it”. It’s like saying “my working hours are 40 per week, I decided against working just 25”.
I don't get why it's hard to understand... I was planning on giving less than my contracted 3 months just to see what they'd do essentially, as I've seen others do similar but to what effect I don't know - Therefore I decided against doing that.S9JTO said:
GrumpyTwig said:
Yep, told them I needed to leave sooner and had a couple weeks holiday in between jobs. Not financially great but didn't cause any issues.
No push back from the current employer at the time?They were a small'ish sub-100 employee business though, I would imagine at a large (inter)national of some kind would be much trickier to negotiate with.
That and I was working on systems at the time that one 'wrong move' could have destroyed their reputation and finances.... That wasn't a bargaining chip (blackmail?) I used just to be clear, but I would presume that any sane company would take that kind of risk exposure into account when discussing these things.
Essentially what I'm suggesting is it depends on what position you're in as to how you stand going into negotiate these kind of things. Your actual expertise value to the company and any mitigation they want to do to minimise their own risk and stability.
Doubt there's a hard fast rule in actuality, beyond the fact they can't make you go into work or not be 'ill'.
Edited by GrumpyTwig on Wednesday 8th November 09:42
Slurms said:
Just had a conversation with them, if they've already said no then i'd leave it for at least a couple of weeks and then see if they've changed their minds.
In all likelihood your initial request was probably denied on the basis that it's easier to say no and then think about it.
That's what I'm thinking, my Team Leader reckons my manager initially said I have to work the full 3 months because of shock (heat of the moment), thanks for the adviceIn all likelihood your initial request was probably denied on the basis that it's easier to say no and then think about it.
GrumpyTwig said:
Not really beyond I didn't get paid for half the month, which I didn't expect as I'd not worked it.
They were a small'ish sub-100 employee business though, I would imagine at a large (inter)national of some kind would be much trickier to negotiate with.
That and I was working on systems at the time that one 'wrong move' could have destroyed their reputation and finances.... That wasn't a bargaining chip (blackmail?) I used just to be clear, but I would presume that any sane company would take that kind of risk exposure into account when discussing these things.
Essentially what I'm suggesting is it depends on what position you're in as to how you stand going into negotiate these kind of things. Your actual expertise value to the company and any mitigation they want to do to minimise their own risk and stability.
Doubt there's a hard fast rule in actuality, beyond the fact they can't make you go into work or not be 'ill'.
I'd also expect not to be paid of course, however I have liaised with my new employer and they are happy for me to start earlier given some notice, so the sooner the better really. I'm struggling to find motivation already after less than a week after handing it in. I don't think I can physically do this for another 3 months, surely my current employer must know this too.They were a small'ish sub-100 employee business though, I would imagine at a large (inter)national of some kind would be much trickier to negotiate with.
That and I was working on systems at the time that one 'wrong move' could have destroyed their reputation and finances.... That wasn't a bargaining chip (blackmail?) I used just to be clear, but I would presume that any sane company would take that kind of risk exposure into account when discussing these things.
Essentially what I'm suggesting is it depends on what position you're in as to how you stand going into negotiate these kind of things. Your actual expertise value to the company and any mitigation they want to do to minimise their own risk and stability.
Doubt there's a hard fast rule in actuality, beyond the fact they can't make you go into work or not be 'ill'.
Edited by GrumpyTwig on Wednesday 8th November 09:42
That's similar to me as I'm working with in the financial services industry managing multiple systems however as I said I'm not that valuable as there are 5 other engineers in total and I haven't been with the company very long. On the other hand my role is specialist so it is hard to recruit...
I rather doubt you can choose to give less than your contracted notice period. It is contracted and in there because that is their requirement. You cannot normally choose an exit strategy and notice options, and as you have been there a year even less likely to do so.
Not quite sure how you can think taking a month is even allowable if the stipulation is 3 months? but you say others have, maybe they were luckier?
Obviously it can benefit both parties to let you go early, but if your side do not want this you have to do your time.
Worst case scenario, quit your current role anyway, just walk out if you can afford to lose face and lose the potential earnings and good grace But obviously that depends entirely on your new employer being happy with that situation, which by the sounds of it they would not be, it paints you in a bad light to some extent.
Not quite sure how you can think taking a month is even allowable if the stipulation is 3 months? but you say others have, maybe they were luckier?
Obviously it can benefit both parties to let you go early, but if your side do not want this you have to do your time.
Worst case scenario, quit your current role anyway, just walk out if you can afford to lose face and lose the potential earnings and good grace But obviously that depends entirely on your new employer being happy with that situation, which by the sounds of it they would not be, it paints you in a bad light to some extent.
Edited by chunder27 on Wednesday 8th November 12:01
chunder27 said:
I rather doubt you can choose to give less than your contracted notice period. It is contracted and in there because that is their requirement. You cannot normally choose an exit strategy and notice options, and as you have been there a year even less likely to do so.
Not quite sure how you can think taking a month is even allowable if the stipulation is 3 months? but you say others have, maybe they were luckier?
Obviously it can benefit both parties to let you go early, but if your side do not want this you have to do your time.
Worst case scenario, quit your current role anyway, just walk out if you can afford to lose face and lose the potential earnings and good grace But obviously that depends entirely on your new employer being happy with that situation, which by the sounds of it they would not be, it paints you in a bad light to some extent.
Yeah this is exactly why I chose not to just do a month or less - I've made the right decision I believe, however I'm interested to know what would my employer actually do? And what would my new employer do if they found out/Can they find out? Not quite sure how you can think taking a month is even allowable if the stipulation is 3 months? but you say others have, maybe they were luckier?
Obviously it can benefit both parties to let you go early, but if your side do not want this you have to do your time.
Worst case scenario, quit your current role anyway, just walk out if you can afford to lose face and lose the potential earnings and good grace But obviously that depends entirely on your new employer being happy with that situation, which by the sounds of it they would not be, it paints you in a bad light to some extent.
Edited by chunder27 on Wednesday 8th November 12:01
S9JTO said:
Yeah this is exactly why I chose not to just do a month or less - I've made the right decision I believe, however I'm interested to know what would my employer actually do? And what would my new employer do if they found out/Can they find out?
But you haven't made any decision. In line with your contract, you have submitted notice that in 3 months time, you will cease to be an employee of the company.And of course the new employer would find out. They ask for references from OldCo, who reply "eh? He still works for us" and then instruct BV72, who comes and takes all your old BL rustpiles from your drive.
randlemarcus said:
But you haven't made any decision. In line with your contract, you have submitted notice that in 3 months time, you will cease to be an employee of the company.
And of course the new employer would find out. They ask for references from OldCo, who reply "eh? He still works for us" and then instruct BV72, who comes and takes all your old BL rustpiles from your drive.
I made the decision to abide by my contracted notice period, I didn't really have to - I could've handed in a months notice and dealt with any potential repercussions (as mentioned others have done so without any).And of course the new employer would find out. They ask for references from OldCo, who reply "eh? He still works for us" and then instruct BV72, who comes and takes all your old BL rustpiles from your drive.
Yeah they'll ask and they'll find out I left earlier than I initially told them, would they refuse to employ me? If I told them in advance I was giving less notice than I'm contracted, what would they do? I know you can't answer these questions with certainty but just wanna know if anybody has experienced similar...
You've lost me on the BV72 stuff, before my time maybe?
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