to think a three months notice period is too long

I should have given 8 weeks notice to leave my last role but my new (now current) employer needed me to start on a certain date which couldn’t be changed because it began with intensive training for a number of us that were starting.

Whilst I think of you can do the required notice you should, if it means leaving them in the lurch, I really don’t think you should risk upsetting your new employer and damaging your future for it. Just leave when you want to, what exactly can they do about it?

Your new company are unlikely to go to the arseache of advertising, shortlisting and interviewing again. Even if they did it would take so long it wouldn't save time. I suppose they might offer it to the second choice but that would be very short sighted. To get the second best for the sake of a few weeks.

Try being a teacher. For some terms it's almost 6 months notice!

Try to negotiate, but when it's in your contract, it's not unreasonable at all.

It's extremely unlikely they will have time to find your replacement, have him/her start and for you to do a handover in 1 month. They might be happy with your position being empty for awhile and someone else doing your job.

It's quite standard, and frankly, it's in your own interest too. If they get rid of you, you have your notice or at least the full 3 months pay.

Yes it is, but it's becoming more common!

YABVU

You signed the contract so that's the notice period. I resigned from a job recently with the same. However, I was owed over three weeks annual leave so I left earlier.

It's possible that the employer was expecting that kind of notice period to be in place - it's very common in my sector and at my level so I would expect it if recruiting.

I’ve got a three month notice period and I didn’t find out until after I’d started the job

How can this be the case? It should be specified in your contact. If not the can’t hold you to it.

Are you moving to a competitor? If so they are less likely to negotiate ime but may distance you from current clients and suppliers in meantime.

Ours starts at a month and once you've been in the business for five years it becomes 3 months.
It's a big company with multiple locations and loads of opportunities to progress and change jobs. Most people are within the company for well over five years.

3-6 months is standard in my role

Hopefully you'll find your new employer to be a lot more patient than you're expecting

DH last role was 6 months notice (Director Level), he was able to negotiate it to 4 months as he sourced his replacement.

I’ve got a three month notice period and I didn’t find out until after I’d started the job, it’s not a senior job and I’m pretty easily replaceable so I’d assumed it would be 1 month, I didn’t even think to ask when I was interviewing.

It’s really stupid at our level because people hand their notice in then mentally check out, their work is always sloppy when it’s handed over and you can tell they’ve been doing the bare minimum.

OP - do you have any holiday or TOIL to take, so although your actual finish date is in 3 months time, but your last day of work is earlier.

Standard in my industry. i also know of people who’ve worked 6 months notice.

But talk to your current employer. In my experience, people aren’t always held to the full 3 months. It may suit your employer to have you go sooner.

Did your new company tell you that they won't wait that long of are you assuming that they won't wait. More than likely they have a similar notice period for your new role esp if it's specialised so they should be understanding - you need to talk to your new company

Those saying you need to negotiate when you sign your contract- would that actually work? If at taking the job, you said you only wanted to give one months notice wouldn’t your work just say no AND think you had no commitment to the role?

I have a three months notice period due to the level that i'm at, it's fairly standard and most employers would be fine with it.

”My new job may not be able to wait that long for me to start.”

Are they really saying they will withdraw the offer? Unless they have a very very close second choice with a shorter notice period that seems very unlikely.

”Am i unreasonable to think that one month is enough notice?”

Enough notice for what? To fulfil your contractual obligation? Doesn’t sound like it. To recruit a replacement? Probably not, in most cases. Conducting a recruitment campaign and then waiting for the preferred candidate to serve their notice will almost always take longer than a month.

Have a conversation to see if you can leave earlier, perhaps if you have leave you have not taken.

HR person here. Depending on the level of seniority 3 months is absolutely standard. Lower level roles are 1 month and very senior roles are 6 months, but 3 months is general rule

I have a countdown on my phone until the end of my last day. It’s currently set in hours. It seems easier to think how many hours I have left rather than days as these tick down quicker.

You really need to address this sort of thing when you sign a contract of employment. There's no point complaining about it now .

@Elephantina that's amazing I'm almost certainly now going to do this.

If you are going to a competitor, don’t expect your employer to let you go early!

Do you mean you feel that you can only give one month’s notice? Then YABU... your contracted notice period is 3 months. However you may be able to negotiate something. Your current employer has no obligation to let you go earlier though, even if they hire a replacement sooner.
What’s your notice period in the new job? Also, were you asked about your notice period at interview stage or when you were offered the job?
Have they said they won’t wait?