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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think a three months notice period is too long

64 replies

Buildmeup76 · 16/03/2019 15:48

I’ve recently been offered a great new job however my notice period is three months. My new job may not be able to wait that long for me to start. Am i unreasonable to think that one month is enough notice?

OP posts:

LaurieMarlow · 16/03/2019 16:40

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.

Chottie · 16/03/2019 16:40

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.

GuineaPiglet345 · 16/03/2019 16:42

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.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 16/03/2019 16:43

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

AguerosAngel · 16/03/2019 16:43

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

Glitteryfrog · 16/03/2019 16:44

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.

LIZS · 16/03/2019 16:46

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.

LaurieMarlow · 16/03/2019 16:49

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.

cuppycakey · 16/03/2019 16:53

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.

youknowmedontyou · 16/03/2019 16:53

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

thedisorganisedmum · 16/03/2019 16:54

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.

Curiousmum69 · 16/03/2019 16:56

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

NicoAndTheNiners · 16/03/2019 17:07

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.

LeSquigh · 16/03/2019 17:09

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?

flowery · 16/03/2019 17:11

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

The poster may well not have received her contract until after starting the job.

Rystall · 16/03/2019 17:18

@RandomlyChosenName

Yes, it certainly is possible to negotiate a shorter notice period in certain jobs, before you sign a contract. You’ve nothing to lose by asking. However, this works both ways. If your new employer wants to terminate your contract during your probation period ( usually 6 months) they will equally have the benefit of the shorter notice period.

Tonsilss · 16/03/2019 17:25

If you try to negotiate this kind of thing when you're offered a job, you risk the offer being withdrawn. Just apologise and give as much notice as you can. They are very unlikely to sue you in these circumstances.

SileneOliveira · 16/03/2019 17:27

DH is on 6 months! In practice though the company lets people go in a shorter time period after they've done a full handover.

And as other people have pointed out, a longer notice period can work in your favour in other circumstances.

Romanov · 16/03/2019 17:29

@flowery

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

The poster may well not have received her contract until after starting the job.

All of the jobs I have had I get the contract first? What do you check? I check for annual leave allowance and notice periods

Romanov · 16/03/2019 17:29

....and hours (35 or 37.5 etc)

RubyWho · 16/03/2019 17:31

My current role is 6 months, my last was three but I negotiated down to two when I left.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/03/2019 17:35

I think most people in my company are on 3 months notice, however my contract states 1 month. Does anyone know if they can force me to sign a new contract with a different notice period? I don't have a senior role.

flowery · 16/03/2019 17:43

”All of the jobs I have had I get the contract first?”

Yes, and that’s normal. I would never resign without having seen and been happy with the terms of a new one. But there’s no (current) obligation to issue written terms until the person has been employed for two months, so it is possible that the poster in question handed in her notice and started a new job without knowing what her new notice period would be.

yorkshirepud44 · 16/03/2019 17:43

Even if you didn't get the contract until you started (which is fine providing you do within 2 months currently, I think) the notice period should have been mentioned within your written offer.

3 months is fairly standard, if annoying. My boss has resigned and has a whole year to work

Isleepinahedgefund · 16/03/2019 17:44

Ours depends on seniority and role, which works out a bit ridiculous sometimes. For instance. my current technical specialist role which requires three years specialist training for new starters has a one month notice period. My manager, who is not required to be a tech specialist, knows nothing about my work and therefore cannot take it over if I leave, has to give three months notice! I’m about to start a new more senior role and my notice period will be three months. I had two weeks of leave I had to take before leaving so in effect my notice is two weeks.

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