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Original poster

Handed my notice - boss wants me to leave early but unpaid!

41 replies

greyrainbows · 17/07/2024 10:15

Looking for advice here as I'm getting quite frustrated and uncomfortable with things.

Had a new boss several months now and she is very micro managing and all round difficult and hard to deal with - won't get into that here as I guess not really relevant now

So I found a new role, dream role in fact and was (am) elated. I have to give three months notice and the start date from my new employers was in time with this due to their own internal processes etc. More than one person is being hired there so the date is set to onboard multiple people at once. I am completely happy with this.

Handed my notice in my current job with the 3 months as required. All I've had since is pushy behaviour from my boss to go early. While I would love nothing more than to go off on gardening leave, she wants me to leave early unpaid. She keeps saying things like it's summer so it's quiet, I need time off between roles, it's tedious working a three month notice...

She tries to manipulate it that she has my best interests at heart when she definitely doesn't as this is a pattern done previously. She must really think I'm stupid because yesterday she said I'd get some kind of tax rebate if I left early so financially it wouldn't be that much less?!!! What the hell is she talking about 🤣

I've said that I can't afford to take any unpaid leave so will be working until the date outlined in my notice - and I keep continually being challenged on this. I'm getting quite uncomfortable and awkward feeling like I have to justify why I'm still here and need to work until my new role begins!

I've never experienced this before in my life and I'm so shocked by it all. Surely this is unprofessional and shouldn't be allowed?

Would love to hear anyone's thoughts as need to figure out what to do when it inevitably comes up again? Do I push for gardening leave? My performance at this company and in my reviews etc has always been good so it's not a 'me being inept at my job' type thing either.

Genuinely perplexed!

OP posts:
WorriedMutha · 17/07/2024 10:20

Tell her to do one. Working is how you earn a living and pay the bills. You've got an exit strategy so you don't have to play nice with this bully.

LutonBeds · 17/07/2024 10:21

It is unprofessional. I’d just say you’re willing to go on gardening leave with pay, otherwise you’ll be staying till xxx date. The tax thing is because tax has been deducted from your pay as if you’re earning the same through the year so if you have a period where you’re not paid you will get a small rebate.

ApolloandDaphne · 17/07/2024 10:21

I think you need to be clear with the: either you are staying to work out your notice or they pay you what you are due for the notice period to leave early. There is nothing else to negotiate and you are not discussing it further.

farfallarocks · 17/07/2024 10:21

What she is suggesting is illegal, gardening leave fine but you can’t actually make someone leave before notice and not pay them. Speak to HR?

CakeIsNotAvailable · 17/07/2024 10:23

Are you in a trade union? If so, speak to them. If your boss wants you to leave early, I'd see if your union can negotiate paid gardening leave.

CLEO42 · 17/07/2024 10:23

Definitely escalate this to her manager or to HR. She is way out of line.

Dearg · 17/07/2024 10:23

farfallarocks · 17/07/2024 10:21

What she is suggesting is illegal, gardening leave fine but you can’t actually make someone leave before notice and not pay them. Speak to HR?

This. Unless you are suddenly involved in gross misconduct, she’s well out of order.

IvanaTinkles · 17/07/2024 10:24

Definitely speak to HR! I suspect they probably don’t know this is going on. I’m a manager, and at my company I have no say in when someone actually leaves - when they hand in their notice, HR processes it because they know all the legalities etc involved, and then tell me when that persons leaving day will be.

2Old2Tango · 17/07/2024 10:24

That's why we sign contracts with notice periods, so that it protects us and the employer.

Do you have an HR department you can speak to about this?

Ivehearditbothways · 17/07/2024 10:26

Send an email, copying in HR or her direct boss outlining what you have said here with a summary of what she has been doing. You’re leaving so who cares? State that the environment is becoming unprofessional and is beginning to feel like bullying, explain that you will not be taking unpaid leave and finishing up early as you have a three months notice period, won’t start your new job until then so need to be paid. Explain that if she wants you leave now then she needs to put you in paid gardening leave and if she won’t then you expect this to be the last time it is mentioned and you do not want to be asked to leave early unpaid again.

Original poster
greyrainbows · 17/07/2024 10:35

Thank you all, I have been working for 20 years so it's not like I've not had jobs before but she has genuinely made me doubt myself here!

Good to know this is as wrong as I thought it was, I think I'm going to schedule a call with HR for sure.

I'm not in a union unfortunately.

OP posts:
AtrociousCircumstance · 17/07/2024 10:37

Yes schedule that call and make it clear that if she keeps pushing this she is trying to break contract, and you will get a solicitor. Mention the undue stress it’s causing.

DancingNotDrowning · 17/07/2024 10:39

I’d suggest an email to HR rather than a call. Remember they work for the company not for you and given you are leaving they will have zero interest in supporting you.

Giannetta · 17/07/2024 10:40

Yes gather your evidence and go to HR. Poor behaviour by your manager.

Excourtclerk · 21/07/2024 15:04

I had this exact same issue a few yrs ago. My boss retired and the new boss who took over micro-managed to extreme (couldn't eventually send an email without her questioning why it had been sent). I handed in my notice in my case only a month's notice required to which she tried to get me to leave early. I told her firmly that a month's notice was what I was required to give and I was quite happy to work that months notice. She wasn't happy about it and for the entire month only communicated by typewritten notes. Have to say that last month was the best I had working under her because of her ignoring me it was bliss compared to the previous 11 months of her constantly questioning me.

Meadowfinch · 21/07/2024 15:08

Every time she says anything, just breezily say, 'I can't help that. My leaving date is xx October' .And repeat. There is nothing she can do about it.

Noseybookworm · 21/07/2024 15:18

Tell her straight you're not going to leave before your expected date unless it's paid leave. Ask her to stop making comments on it or you will speak to HR as you feel she is bordering on harassment.

KewBridgeSteamMuseum · 21/07/2024 15:18

The tax thing is because you've been taxed on the assumption that you'll get 12 months at the same pay rate, so if you actually have a month unpaid then you'll get a refund for overpaid tax in the previous 11 months. But you'll still have less net money than you otherwise would.

ECN73 · 21/07/2024 15:19

Don’t schedule a call to HR - put it in writing so they can’t deny anything you’ve said.

user1471538283 · 21/07/2024 15:24

Everything in writing stating the facts clearly and flatly.

If she wants you to go early the company has to pay you. You are not in breach of your contract.

She's probably jealous you've got a good job to go to so she is trying to penalise you.

FloofPaws · 21/07/2024 15:33

ECN73 · 21/07/2024 15:19

Don’t schedule a call to HR - put it in writing so they can’t deny anything you’ve said.

... or, have the call with HR and follow up with an email

Runbunny · 21/07/2024 15:39

Put it in writing, say you've taken advice (you have 😆) and that your contract states 3 months notice on either side, so you intend to work until x date in line with your contracted terms. If they would like to end your employment earlier, you will accept payment in lieu of the contracted notice.

Exactlab · 21/07/2024 16:16

Make a note of exactly what she has said and then email her.

After which - forward the email to HR and ask if HR is aware of these conversations as it is creating a hostile working environment.

Following which - every time she does something like this email her then email HR.

Hopefully they will just pay you out your notice period and you can leave early.

Curlewwoohoo · 21/07/2024 16:17

My husband is in a similar situation with awful boss. He's found a new job and working his 3m notice. He would dearly love to finish earlier as he's very much struggling mentally. His boss first stated he didn't need to do 3m, then that they 'might' let him go early, then that they should "continue to discuss it throughout August". Meaning DH can't tee up start date with new company. And might be left without pay for a month. I think it's a power trip.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 21/07/2024 16:33

@Curlewwoohoo - I know nothing about these things, but as in the case of the OP, is there not an HR department who could deal with this and almost act as a go-between between your husband and his boss?

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