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AIBU?

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Original poster

To let manager know I've got a new job via email?

29 replies

msc6199 · 23/12/2021 07:53

It doesn't sit right with me - HOWEVER - we had a time slot arranged earlier (via MS Teams as WFH) in the week for me to have a chat with my manager and let them know that I have been successful for another position and therefore they can expect a reference request.

MS Teams meeting came and went, manager never showed. I tried calling them on their mobile - it rang and rang but never answered, nor was my call returned. I also tried again the next day, to no avail.

I have annual leave from today for 2 weeks and of course want to have this conversation sooner than later, however it is becoming very difficult to speak to my manager.

I emailed this morning asking if we could by any chance have a phone call today, to which they've replied that they are on annual leave. This is not reflected in their calendar nor do they have an out of office on.

WWYD? Considering all of the above? I need to give them the heads up that they can expect a reference request (it'll go through HR, but HR may inform them) - I'd rather have a phone call but I feel I don't have any other options!

OP posts:
GoodnightGrandma · 23/12/2021 07:54

Yep, send the email.
If you can’t do it face to face it’s not your fault.

Thehobbit2013 · 23/12/2021 07:55

I would. You have tried to do it through Teams/call. What else can you do.

Thefuturestory · 23/12/2021 07:56

I’d send to them and copy in HR especially as you want your notice starting.

DysmalRadius · 23/12/2021 07:56

I would send the email but make it very clear that it wasn't your preferred way of sharing the news. I have had to do similar under similar circumstances and my manager understood. Presumably you need to trigger your notice period so cannot wait much longer?

Clymene · 23/12/2021 07:56

I would and I would also repeat all the multiple ways that you have tried to get in touch with them (including them not turning up for your arranged meeting).

And I'd copy your HR person so that you are officially giving notice today.

Congratulations on the new job. Hope your new line manager is a bit less useless than this one!

trilbydoll · 23/12/2021 07:56

Just say in the email you would rather have done it face to face but various factors have made it impossible.

tttigress · 23/12/2021 07:57

I think at this stage you can email them, so they have officially been informed. I guess you should not be contacting them while on leave, can you cc their deputy and call them.

Seems a bit crap that you have obviously tried to contact them but get not reply, not really a suprise you are leaving!!

Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 07:57

Thank you all, I appreciate the reassurance.

I'll only trigger my notice once references etc have gone through OK and I have a confirmed start date in place, but yes of course I'd like this to happen as soon as possible and get that ball rolling x

OP posts:
tttigress · 23/12/2021 07:58

Funnily enough, I have got a few colleagues this week that haven't booked leave, yet seem to be on some unofficial leave scheme that I don't know about!!

JustJustWhy · 23/12/2021 08:00

When I read the headline I thought "absolutely not". When I then read all the hoops you've already jumped through then I thought "bloody absolutely!"

You need to make sure that this does get triggered somehow though. It sounds like this person is either not accessing emails or pretending that they're not.

Curtainpoleloop · 23/12/2021 08:02

Definitely send the email and document that as the manager has told you they are on annual you don’t have another way to deliver the message. For reference, notice starts the day after you give it, just be aware in case they are pedantic

Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 08:06

@JustJustWhy

When I read the headline I thought "absolutely not". When I then read all the hoops you've already jumped through then I thought "bloody absolutely!"

You need to make sure that this does get triggered somehow though. It sounds like this person is either not accessing emails or pretending that they're not.

Haha! I know! I really wanted to explain myself because in any other situation I wouldn't even think about doing it via email!! Other than rocking up at their house I feel I don't really have any other option 😂
OP posts:
Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 08:07

@Curtainpoleloop

Definitely send the email and document that as the manager has told you they are on annual you don’t have another way to deliver the message. For reference, notice starts the day after you give it, just be aware in case they are pedantic
I want to make it clear that this isn't notice of resignation, but out of courtesy I'd like to let them know that I have been successful for XXXX position and that they can expect a reference request (obviously I will then trigger notice as soon as I have a start date)
OP posts:
JustUseTheDoorSanta · 23/12/2021 08:12

Why are you debating references without a confirmed start date? Usually an offer says "subject to references", which should be a formality via HR to confirm that you worked there. Your manager would not usually be involved. Are you concerned that something will come out that's unusual, or is there some uncertainty over whether you've got the job?

To trigger your notice, you just email HR and CC your line manager. Advise you've been unfortunately unable to let the line manager know due to their holiday absence. No more over-thinking required than that. If you aren't triggering your notice then I don't understand what you expect of them, and they will naturally be curious about that. It looks like possibly you want them to offer you something to stay, maybe they will, but it's just not a great way to go about it.

PhilCornwall1 · 23/12/2021 08:20

@tttigress

Funnily enough, I have got a few colleagues this week that haven't booked leave, yet seem to be on some unofficial leave scheme that I don't know about!!
Same. I'm on leave and some cheeky fucker has just put a leave request through for today, tomorrow and next week.

He knows I'm on leave, so he can do one, as I'm not logging on to approve it. He's notorious for trying this shit.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 23/12/2021 08:20

@JustUseTheDoorSanta

Why are you debating references without a confirmed start date? Usually an offer says "subject to references", which should be a formality via HR to confirm that you worked there. Your manager would not usually be involved. Are you concerned that something will come out that's unusual, or is there some uncertainty over whether you've got the job?

To trigger your notice, you just email HR and CC your line manager. Advise you've been unfortunately unable to let the line manager know due to their holiday absence. No more over-thinking required than that. If you aren't triggering your notice then I don't understand what you expect of them, and they will naturally be curious about that. It looks like possibly you want them to offer you something to stay, maybe they will, but it's just not a great way to go about it.

Managers are involved in references where I work, they request sometimes comes via HR if the applicant is internal, and is then passed to the manager, or it comes direct to the manager.
Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 08:23

@JustUseTheDoorSanta

Why are you debating references without a confirmed start date? Usually an offer says "subject to references", which should be a formality via HR to confirm that you worked there. Your manager would not usually be involved. Are you concerned that something will come out that's unusual, or is there some uncertainty over whether you've got the job?

To trigger your notice, you just email HR and CC your line manager. Advise you've been unfortunately unable to let the line manager know due to their holiday absence. No more over-thinking required than that. If you aren't triggering your notice then I don't understand what you expect of them, and they will naturally be curious about that. It looks like possibly you want them to offer you something to stay, maybe they will, but it's just not a great way to go about it.

Not at all! I've just been told before that it doesn't look good if your manager finds out another way that you've got a new job, I feel like I'm being courteous to give them the heads up, that's all. Maybe I'm I'm overthinking it completely
OP posts:
Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 08:25

I spoke with HR yesterday and they said that although they deal with the reference, they let line managers know that references have been sought, hence wanting to give my manager the heads up. I'd like it to come from me not HR if I can hence trying to arrange a meeting/chat with them x

OP posts:
JustUseTheDoorSanta · 23/12/2021 09:08

Ok. Well an email is fine as that lets them know. Enjoy the new job!

Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 09:40

Also I feel a bit miffed that my line manager didn't give me any heads up of their 2 weeks of annual leave - it shouldn't take me asking to chat with them for me to find out that they're going to be away surely! I have no problem with people going on leave at all but here I am stewing over whether to send an email to a manager who doesn't even tell me that they're going to be on leave for a significant period of time 😂

OP posts:
billy1966 · 23/12/2021 09:57

Very poor from your manager that you haven't been informed they are on two weeks leave.

The courtesy is one way.

Good luck with the job.Flowers

Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 10:14

@billy1966

Very poor from your manager that you haven't been informed they are on two weeks leave.

The courtesy is one way.

Good luck with the job.Flowers

Thank you 💕
OP posts:
Squeezita · 23/12/2021 10:50

Definitely send them the email.

billyt · 23/12/2021 11:29

It's difficult some time to get Managers to manage. Grin

Many year ago I worked as a Service Engineer for a very large company. If you went for an internal vacancy you were obliged to inform your Line Manager. No instruction on method. No problem (or so I thought). Told him face to face, in front of others. Day before internal meeting I get a call from his line Manager - (Banshee Bitch) Saying I hadn't informed him so I wasn't able to apply and she sent me over to the IOW the next day! She terrified him so he denied I'd told him. Even when the others backed me up. Made sure every conversation after etc. was in email for back up. Left a month later for external role.

When I moved to my existing job I tried to get hold of my Manager before submitting my resignation out of courtesy. Every time voicemail, so I asked him to call me back. Nothing. The one message I left where I said I wanted to talk to him before I handed my resignation when I arrived at the office he called me back. he couldn't be arsed to do my exit interview and got a Director to do it. After 5 years it lasted under five minutes.

Original poster
msc6199 · 23/12/2021 11:40

@billyt

It's difficult some time to get Managers to manage. Grin

Many year ago I worked as a Service Engineer for a very large company. If you went for an internal vacancy you were obliged to inform your Line Manager. No instruction on method. No problem (or so I thought). Told him face to face, in front of others. Day before internal meeting I get a call from his line Manager - (Banshee Bitch) Saying I hadn't informed him so I wasn't able to apply and she sent me over to the IOW the next day! She terrified him so he denied I'd told him. Even when the others backed me up. Made sure every conversation after etc. was in email for back up. Left a month later for external role.

When I moved to my existing job I tried to get hold of my Manager before submitting my resignation out of courtesy. Every time voicemail, so I asked him to call me back. Nothing. The one message I left where I said I wanted to talk to him before I handed my resignation when I arrived at the office he called me back. he couldn't be arsed to do my exit interview and got a Director to do it. After 5 years it lasted under five minutes.

Wow, this really sums it all up doesn't it! I've had the same thing - I've tried a total of 5 times to contact via phone, never answered nor were my calls returned. Other than delivering a letter to their house I have no other option than email! 😂

It just goes to show there's no loyalty in business. If they don't care that much for us, then we shouldn't stress over the small stuff for them!

OP posts: