Week of March 1, Notice Time..

[andream]

When leaving one job for another, we all give a certain amount of notice.  This amount of time is governed by your employment agreement and the country you're in.  For instance, in the US two weeks to a month is the normal with a Month being the outside edge.  In the UK a month is far more common than a mere two weeks.

That being said, let's talk about that terrific job you were offered, you know the one that insisted you be able to start tomorrow?  How do you handle the "No notice nellies".  OF course as office professionals, we explain that we need to give notice to facillitate a smooth transition for our current employer.  But what happens when the new job needs you to start tomorrow and the old job doesn't even have a clue that you might be leaving yet? Ever experienced this? And if you haven't, put yourself in those proverbial shoes for a few moments and tell us how you handle giving notice when the new employer won't give you adequate time.

Andrea

[gee4]

Basically if you have signed a contract you are legally bound - ie companies can hold back pay if you leave before giving notice.

If you have not signed a contract you are not required to give notice.

G

[raindance]

I have been in this situation twice (people must really REALLY want me NOT).  Seriously, I think it happens because some companies just don't make proper plans.  

On the first occasion I explained that I had to give adequate notice to my current employers, that since they had offered the job to me they were eager to appoint me as opposed to someone else and that they, I was sure, would like an employee to give them proper notice.  I put it all a little more tactfully than that and managed to give the proper notice to my then employers.

The second time this happened was when I was being appointed to my current post.  I managed to work three weeks out of the four weeks notice I had to give and my employers were really understanding. I explained that the new post was a great opportunity for me.  It was especially kind of them because I had worked there for nine years and I knew they would find it hard to cover my post so quickly, even with a temp.  

Raindance