Shorten My Notice Period?

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Discussion

Jefferson Steelflex

Original Poster:

1,428 posts

98 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Potentially difficult conversation coming up at work. I would start by saying that I don't like this sort of thing, and am not comfortably doing it from a moral perspective but....

I've been offered a new job. The job is a significant pay increase, which is nice, but they have indicated on the verbal offer I have so far that they would require me to start within 2 months. I am waiting for the formal offer but the conversation was clear that the offer is contingent on starting by x date.

I am on 3 months notice, so i will need to try and negotiate myself out of that. In addition, I am due to receive my annual bonus halfway through my notice period. Under the scheme rules, I am entitled to receive the bonus, but it does cloud the water somewhat.

Anyone have any guidance on how to start the conversation or experience of similar? Ideally i'd like to get the notice down to 2 months and the bonus paid in full.....

I'm thinking:
1) Give notice
2) Get bonus, then
3) Ask to leave earlier

sc0tt

18,032 posts

200 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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I would do as you suggested.


elanfan

5,516 posts

226 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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Gauge the reaction to your resignation, you never know they might put you on gardening leave. If they say we want you for 3 months I'd suggest you start feeling unwell.

AyBee

10,522 posts

201 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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I'd feel very reluctant to resign before the bonus was received, if it's anything like mine, it's discretionary and they'll be reluctant to pay it if they know you're leaving. I'd also be very hesitant to even start negotiations with my current employer on the basis of an offer contingent on a starting date which was before the end of my notice period - I'm not sure you can negotiate your notice period before resigning and doing it the other way (resign, then negotiate) could leave you in a very awkward position if they say no because then you won't have either job. I'd be saying to the new employer, I'll do my best to shorten my notice period, but I'm not starting that negotiation if your offer is conditional on my notice period being shorter than contracted and see where I got to first.

Al_85

20 posts

185 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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Recruiter here.

Bonus sounds discretionary which will be at risk if you resign, let alone then negotiate shorter notice. I'd wait.

Either way, the key to negotiating a quicker notice period is to address their pain points. What is the impact on any ongoing projects/workload? In your resignation letter, you need to specifically address this, so for example indicate you will ensure XYZ milestone is delivered by XYZ date, and that you will assist with any recruitment or training for your replacement.

It is really in their best interest to ensure your leaving is as pain free as possible, this extends to you leaving on good terms; no-one wants a disgruntled employee begrudgingly wasting days at their desk.

If this new role is contingent on your securing this early release, I would also make that clear; hopefully they wouldn't stand in the way and potentially risk you losing this new job.

Congrats on the new offer, and best of luck.

Chainsaw Rebuild

1,997 posts

101 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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I would think that you want to make sure your new job is certain first. Then resign from the old job and say look I really need to leave a bit earlier. Hopefully they will help you out; perhaps you can sweeten it for them by offering to support them over the phone/via email if they need it.

Can you use any holiday you are owed to shorten the amount of time you are physically at the old job?

Ultimately though if they are difficult about it I would just leave when you need to. I believe the worst case is they can deduct it from your last pay packet.

Jefferson Steelflex

Original Poster:

1,428 posts

98 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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Thanks for the comments so far.

The bonus is discretionary of course, but the only specific clause they have put in is it will not be paid if the person is not employed on the date of payment (end of March). So, technically, I should get it, and others in the past have done so, but this is a sticking point still. It's further clouded by us not knowing what it will be (they never tell us, which is rubbish) and it could be £100 or it could be £x,000. In fact, it could even be zero.

I like the idea of addressing the pain point in the resignation letter - we are under severe budget constraints and I am not a cheap resource (as my boss constantly reminds me), so I think that is a good angle to use.

I certainly won't be doing anything until I have the offer in writing from the new company. Still checking my email every 10 minutes to see if it's arrived yet....

AyBee

10,522 posts

201 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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Jefferson Steelflex said:
The bonus is discretionary of course, but the only specific clause they have put in is it will not be paid if the person is not employed on the date of payment (end of March). So, technically, I should get it, and others in the past have done so, but this is a sticking point still. It's further clouded by us not knowing what it will be (they never tell us, which is rubbish) and it could be £100 or it could be £x,000. In fact, it could even be zero.
If you are at all bothered about your bonus, do not give any indication you're resigning until it's in your bank account! Think about it from their point of view - why would they pay you anything they didn't need to if you weren't planning on sticking around?

MOBB

3,575 posts

126 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
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Jefferson Steelflex said:
we are under severe budget constraints and I am not a cheap resource (as my boss constantly reminds me), so I think that is a good angle to use.
They should be happy for you to leave earlier then in that case, same them some money!



Jefferson Steelflex

Original Poster:

1,428 posts

98 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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No major updates yet, I can expect the formal offer early next week and the stance has softened to "we'd like you as early as possible, so do what you can...".

I did, however, have a chat with HR off the record yesterday about a 'friend' and they confirmed that my friend would be eligible for the bonus under the scheme rules whether on notice or not. It was fixed on 31/12, so if you're employed on 1/1/17 (as I was) then it is due in full.

It's a bit cat and mouse at the moment - i'm trying to find out what the bonus will be as if it is really low (which I suspect it will be based on company performance) then it's not worth making a fuss over. Then the conversation is "keep the bonus, and i'll leave earlier". Depending on numbers i'd make up the 'lost' bonus in one or two months anyway.

Perhaps not worth updating over, but it's Friday and I wanted to waste 10 minutes before going home. Thanks for all responses so far. To be continued...


anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 18th February 2017
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What's the balance between bonus value and the value to you (not necessarily monetary) of the new job?

You might later regret putting the new job in jeopardy whilst you hang on for an unknown bonus. If the new job were an exciting enough prospect to me, I wouldn't put the bonus first.