Leaving but no one to hand projects to

[Millionairerow]

Trying to leave my job a few weeks earlier than the notice period to start my new job. Frantically trying to get someone to take my projects on and thought this was a done deal. Friday I spoke to the girl who will take them over as some important F2F meetings coming up. She's asked me to hold off as she's has a second interview and will hear next week. . Two of the senior staff have said ok to 3 weeks earlier including my immediate boss but she won't notify HR until the head of her dept gives her ok. She is dragging her heels. Another lady is leaving next week and I heard on the grapevine, that someone else is leaving. Do you think I need to accept I'll be there till the end? My projects are all about relationship building but I really need someone to take them in now rather than me go to these F2F only to then say I'm leaving. What can your work do if you just leave a few weeks early?

[Chorltonswheelies422]

You'd like to leave 3 weeks before but this has only provisionally agreed by your manager and not been finalised?

I would ask for an update from your manager, but from what you describe it doesn't sound like they will release you when you want to be.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Get your leaving date in writing. You should never commit to a start date without a formally agreed leaving date.

Is your new company aware of the situation? I would be wary of a new employee who thinks it okay to break an employment contract when leaving. I would also be wary of a company that encouraged you to do that to get you early.

What can they do? They can give you a reference stating you broke your employment contract, they could charge you for any additional costs incurred by you leaving early, but that would be difficult to enforce and few companies do it. There could be a delay in getting your P45 if you just walk out one day without your leaving date agreed and you would need to explain this to your new company and they would need to apply an emergency tax code.

You signed the contract agreeing your notice period, morally you should fulfil what you agreed to. The risk is if the new job doesn't work out and you move on again, your future reference might cause you issues as it displays a lack of professionalism.