To hand my notice in at work

[Notwavingimdrowning]

I work in the nhs and although things are difficult at work at present ( lots of changes by the powers that be, lots of politics and no communication) I love my job. My problem is that I have just been given my Christmas rota and while I expected to be working some of Christmas or new year, I didn’t expect to be working all of it and other staff be off for all of Christmas and new year. In previous years we have worked short shifts and everyone was fairly treated and most were very happy with their off duty, me included. This year, I have been given night shift for 5 of the nights over Christmas. So, three nights in a row, a sleep day Xmas eve, then two more night shifts, Xmas day and Boxing Day, as well as long days New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I have been and spoken to my manager who agreed that it was very unfair and has now taken one night shift (Boxing Day night) from me. My January rota is also just night shifts, literally every weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights, not a single day shift at all. I really don’t mind nights and weekends, it’s part of the job, however I do mind every weekend and all night shifts and have spoken to her about this before.
Again I have been to see her and she said that she couldn’t please everyone and that somebody had to have the short straw, I’m guessing that the somebody is me.
I am seriously considering just handing my notice in. I know it sounds like I’m having a temper tantrum ! I don’t expect to have everything changed for me and I know that somebody else will then be allocated my shifts, which makes me feel utter crap towards my colleagues, but it’s the attitude from my manager and unfairness that is the problem. I cannot afford to just give up work really without another job to go to, but my husband will support my decision 100% and I will easily pick up bank shifts so won’t be penniless. I’m not trying to hold them to ransom, I really don’t expect anything to change and do not kid myself that I am irreplaceable, I’m just so unhappy 😞

Huh? Since when can a manager just refuse a notice?

In this instance it would start the day it was sent and received (i.e. accepted) by your manager - they cannot say no. In this sense accepted is received

Simply attach the email you sent cc in everyone and do Hashtag email.

Can you also copy in the Trusts legal team and Chief Executive?

OP just tell them when you're leaving. It always makes me laugh at work - people stress about it but our contracts clearly say if your leave without notice then your pay will be stopped with immediate effect #seemsreasonable.

Basically you could quit today and not go in tomorrow and there isn't a great deal they can do about it. You are not in prison, they don't get to tell you when you can leave.

^^this.

In theory they can sue you for cost of a replacement but ah hang on they have stopped your wages so they have it already.

So by their logic, if an employer fails to “accept” an employee’s resignation, they can hold them hostage for as long as it suits them?! Total bollocks. And I’m an employment lawyer!

Please update this - I seen this and am appalled by your manager!

I hate that I am not surprised by your shit manager. The NHS has a systemic bullying problem I think. Probably stemming from the unrelenting pressure to cut costs and provide quality service.

OP they can’t do shit about you leaving. They can’t refuse your resignation and they can’t do anything about you going off sick for the rest of your time if that’s what you did. Fuck them, they reap what they sow. You should prioritise yourself because no one else will do it for you.

OP please send the email that people are suggesting here to HR tomorrow.

I emailed my resignation on x date (see attached) therefore with x notice that would make my final date the 23/12. Please advise me on any outstanding annual leave so I can negotiate to leave earlier, or accept payment for this.

Kind regards,

OP

They cannot stop you from leaving at the end of your notice period, that started when you sent that email. Please contact your union, this is just the kind of thing we pay subs for. Good luck.

This is ridiculous. By the rule they are using, if they wanted to dismiss someone that person could "refuse to accept" it and stay forever! Surely accepting just means receiving, ie opening an email or reading a letter, in that you can't just say you handed a resignation in by slipping it inside a book on a desk.

Thank you for the clarity and support.. mumsnet is amazing ! I am feeling a bit happier tonight, as rather bizarrely / coincidentally the deputy director of nursing actually came to the ward today to speak to staff about the changes that have taken place. It actually seems rather random tbh but I am the 9th member of staff to leave in a 3 month period and I wonder if that is why she paid us a visit. Another colleague and good friend mentioned my issues to her, so she sought me out and we had a lengthy conversation, in which she stated that of course my notice would begin from the day I first tried to give notice, but she did not want to lose good staff and if she could sort the rota ( not just mine, but the inequality in general) would I reconsider. Funny that within half an hour of our talk I was called into the office and a much better rota worked out. It’s still not perfect, but much much better. She has also given me 1 week in which to consider my options and referred me to occupational health for stress. I want to stay. I love my job, but rubbish management ruins it. I will take this time to think about whether it’s better to move on now or risk being in a similar position again, although I think my manager got a real bollocking.

It's piss poor that nothing happened until the deputy director got involved though. Will the bad management in your ward just carry on and upset you again? Will nothing really change except for your Christmas and New year Rota?

"Surely accepting just means receiving, ie opening an email or reading a letter, in that you can't just say you handed a resignation in by slipping it inside a book on a desk."

Actually, as long as you have made the effort to get the resignation to the right person, it doesn't matter if they don't open it on the day you give your notice. E.g. if you send your resignation to your manager on Monday with a dated letter but they don't come into work until Friday, it's still Monday that counts. Similarly, if you send an email which isn't opened for 2 weeks, they can't say "well I didn't actually get it until 2 weeks later.....". So slipping it in the diary on the desk may well be acceptable, if that's the commonly held practice for filing communications in your workplace.

I'm glad someone has listened and I'm glad you have time! Obviously something is rotten when the staff turnover is so high. Have a think about things but I would be reluctant to stay somewhere where things have to get to such a level before anything is resolved. They are treating the symptoms not the cause! I would still leave personally it took me a while but I am now in a all
Managed unit! It's the nhs so it's far from perfect but Rotas are fair, annual leave is sorted out in a timely and fair way And issues are delt with as much as possible not ignored. It makes all the difference and it isn't sorted with quick fixes unfortunately.

Delighted to hear your update op. I can see that you do like your job but have been badly treated by your boss.

If you do decide to stay this should work to your advantage as they will know not to mess with you when it comes to holidays in the future 😂. Just a thought

@Pennypinkhair - what is the Christmas rota like for you?

Not NHS but 24 hr duty office for airline some years ago.
7am - 9pm Christmas Eve
Same for Christmas Day
Oh and Boxing Day.

New Years Eve - 7pm - 7am the following morning.
New Years Day - 7pm - 7am.

Why? I had no children and the NYE shift was like a pp said, they were worried the ‘youngsters’ would not turn up.

Funny that the Duty Office Manager (with three kids) covered none of the shifts at all.

That's abetter update OP.

If you do stay, I've careful to log anything your manager does. There's a risk of retaliation, as I'm certain she's been spoken to by her manager.

💃 although it shouldn't take senior staff having to sort a problem like this I'm glad for you. Hope you take the week to think of a good decision.

Great update. Although I would be reluctant to stay after this situation. IMO it would be likely that your manager is resentful of you going over her head. (I know that's not exactly how it happened but she may see it that way.)

I would take the whole week to think and see how things go during that time.

It sounds like your HR Dept need a bollocking for not understanding basic employment law, and that your Manager should be looking for another role that does not involve rotas. Is there not software for this sort of thing?

I will take this time to think about whether it’s better to move on now or risk being in a similar position again, although I think my manager got a real bollocking.

There is a risk of shit management wherever you work. You've shown her she can't walk all over you, she will see you as in with the director of nursing. I'd probably ride it out and see what happens if I otherwise liked it and if there isn't a massive back story of other stuff. Good that she got a bollocking.

My concern with the xmas rota is that it will change again nearer to xmas due to "sickness" and OP will be lumbered with doing it

Once she's been given her shifts, ie by the deputy director, can she refuse to change them? What if she has made plans based around her Rota? Or would she have to go with the change?

Just looking through my watched threads and this was there.

@Pennypinkhair how did it pan out?