Resigning and notice periods.. Need to keep it short.

[CoffeeGuy]

Hi All,

I have a new job to go to. Current employment contract says 3 months but no one apart from management is ever held to that in over a decade to my knowledge. Most are let go after a month. I want to go after a month but I am not sure how to go about it.

I have some specialist skills that no other team member has. Nothing totally awesome but there is no real way I can teach my domain knowledge in 3 months, let alone 1. It's so niche no other team member even wants to learn it. I can get all my current work items completed and give core handover bits.

How do I really express that I want to be gone yesterday without being an ass about it. I have a draft email that states:

I want to resign
Thanks for the experience
Subtly told them I am not even remotely interested in counter offers.

I need to be gone reasonably quickly and given a proposed date upon which I will have my work list completed and documentation done.

I suspect that just to be spiteful they may try and try radio silence to run the clock down. I could just walk but they owe me over £10K in unmatured share save options and that gives them some leverage.


Any hints/tips/advice?

[hajaba123]

It’s just a negotiation, you don’t want to stick to a contract that you signed into so you need to make it worthwhile for them, simple as that. You know what you want (reduction to 1 month notice and the share stuff etc) find something to give them in return for the 2 months- they may be happy with absolutely nothing, test it and see. Talk to them first to try to test it out?

Are you negotiating your new one so you don’t have this issue again?

Edited by hajaba123 on Sunday 4th May 15:07

[E-bmw]

I did exactly this last year with the exception that I was retiring.

Things had changed at work & I didn't want to do 3 months, especially as my private pension was underway & was going to start in that time.

Put quite simply, I just told them that I did not want to serve 3 months notice to just leave and by not doing so they would not need to pay me my notice period, I asked to leave in a calendar month & they agreed.

If it were me, I wouldn't tell them you are special in any way as HR won't know that & if you tell them that they may well consult people that put a hold on it.

[llewop]

A couple of thoughts;

When I last changed jobs I squeezed the notice period a little by taking A/L at the end of job 1 so I could start job 2 a couple of weeks earlier, but it sounds like you are looking for a more significant adjustment.

Your share you mentioned, might be worth your while checking the clauses and conditions; I lost access to the share/save benefits by submitting the resignation, I can’t remember the specifics, and probably different with different employers.

[Stick Legs]

Be honest & ask for what you want.

Chances are they won’t want you hanging around for 3 months if there isn’t a project you are actively finishing.

The 3 month clause is usually just to stop you nipping off and leaving them hanging mid project.

If the timing is right they may agree to a shorter notice period.

One word of caution.

If you new employer isn’t happy to wait a handful of weeks because of your contractual obligations how nice are they going to be to work for?

[SydneyBridge]

Are you going to a competitor?
May put you on gardening leave

[CoffeeGuy]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who contributed. I took a few tips and updated to include "I will do x, y, z and document it" along with the other items that have been in a holding pattern, cleaning up all my outstanding bits as an incentive for them to agree.

As for giving notice at this company, who knows. I don't really intend to move again as I tend to be one of those people that stays in a job for decades. On the flip side I can't really start dictating terms beyond what I already have. This new job is 3 months period.. It is what it is.. It's one of those jobs that doesn't come along often in one's career and I don't want to be seen as "that guy" before I have even started.

As to the other company not waiting, well, they have been super chilled to their credit. I am just trying to make it as I said it should be, i.e. "Most non management people get to go after a month" which is what I told them..

I do appreciate the ideas and feedback and will see you on the flip-side in the new role!

[NWTony]

It high risk keeping on unhappy and disgruntled employees I think, they will still have access to all your sensitive and critical computer systems, trade secrets etc.

[alscar]

Depends on what you do and how sensitive it may be and how easily others can do this.
They may try and get value out of you for the next 3 months or may just be happy for you to go whenever.
They may put you on gardening leave for that time.

[Byker28i]

NWTony said:

It high risk keeping on unhappy and disgruntled employees I think, they will still have access to all your sensitive and critical computer systems, trade secrets etc.

My last job they made me redundant, but had a month of 'consultancy' before announcing who, but the previous 7 times they had let go everyone put 'at risk'.
They wouldn't put me on gardening leave so I refused to touch any of the systems, so they couldn't claim anything and refuse redundancy payments. It had got that bad. I sat for a month applying for new jobs.

[asfault]

NWTony said:

It high risk keeping on unhappy and disgruntled employees I think, they will still have access to all your sensitive and critical computer systems, trade secrets etc.

Unless they need you.
The last place i left i gave my notice and handed the area manager the safe key. "im not allowed to hold it a an employee leaving"
"AM" oh no i trust you its fine"
aye im leaveing because of your lack of trust in me funny how now im trusted.

[Jasandjules]

CoffeeGuy said:

How do I really express that I want to be gone yesterday without being an ass about it. I have a draft email that states:

I suspect that just to be spiteful they may try and try radio silence to run the clock down. I could just walk but they owe me over £10K in unmatured share save options and that gives them some leverage.

Any hints/tips/advice?

What are the terms of the share options? That is the first question.

In respect of your resignation, what are the exact terms of the contract? In any event you can keep it simple and just say "I am giving four weeks notice". See if they agree or not.....

Just to note whilst if you give three they may place you on garden leave that does not mean you can work for another competitor.

[CharlesElliott]

You would generally lose your options if you resign, as per above, need to know the specifics of those.

[Countdown]

CharlesElliott said:

You would generally lose your options if you resign, as per above, need to know the specifics of those.

From past experience share options can depend on whether you're classed as a "good leaver". If somebody leaves the company under a cloud they say goodbye to those options.

[trevalvole]

Countdown said:

CharlesElliott said:

You would generally lose your options if you resign, as per above, need to know the specifics of those.

From past experience share options can depend on whether you're classed as a "good leaver". If somebody leaves the company under a cloud they say goodbye to those options.

I recall schemes where if you left within 6 months of maturity, you could make the remaining contributions and then get the shares after you've left. This reinforces the comment above about finding out exactly what the terms and conditions are.

[CharlesElliott]

Good leaver is retirement, redundancy etc. 'Resigning' does not normally entitle you to retain unvested options, as you are choosing to resign.

[Jasandjules]

Countdown said:

CharlesElliott said:

You would generally lose your options if you resign, as per above, need to know the specifics of those.

From past experience share options can depend on whether you're classed as a "good leaver". If somebody leaves the company under a cloud they say goodbye to those options.

AS a general rule, I find companies class a resignation as a bad leaver. The idea of the shares generally is to retain the employee hence the options and it is only if they make you redundant (before they vest) that they will pay out... I've negotiated a few deals on this before but as a general rule I find resignation is a fail in terms of stock options.

[trevalvole]

Jasandjules said:

Countdown said:

CharlesElliott said:

You would generally lose your options if you resign, as per above, need to know the specifics of those.

From past experience share options can depend on whether you're classed as a "good leaver". If somebody leaves the company under a cloud they say goodbye to those options.

AS a general rule, I find companies class a resignation as a bad leaver. The idea of the shares generally is to retain the employee hence the options and it is only if they make you redundant (before they vest) that they will pay out... I've negotiated a few deals on this before but as a general rule I find resignation is a fail in terms of stock options.

Were the deals you were involved in sharesave schemes, or the likes of executive share options? The OP did say that his scheme was a sharesave one and if it is there seems to be the following provisions:

"In general, you won't be entitled to buy the shares as you've left the company. However, you will be able to get every penny of the cash that you've saved in to the scheme back.

There's one exception to this – if you've been saving in to a scheme for more than three years, you can buy shares within six months of leaving. This is provided you weren't sacked for misconduct."

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/sharesav...