4 months notice?

[jobproblems672]

Hi.

I’ve recently handed in a notice for a job where on the whole I felt fairly unsupported. It’s an isolating job and it’s caused burnout and also back pain which isn’t being supported too well.

I work in the education sector and my contract said 2 months notice unless it’s in the middle of term time. But I know someone else who recently left in the middle of term.

Truth is this job is making me unwell mentally and physically and I already have been signed off for a week.

My boss is now saying I have to stay until July, so serve a 4 months notice.

I’ve also already agreed a new start date with my new employer (as my boss didn’t tell me this until a week after I handed in my notice). She said “sorry to hear that, is there anything more that we can do” which she says isn’t a formal agreement.

I just can’t physically stay in this job much longer and 4 months is making me want to cry.

Is there anything I can do?

It doesn't matter. You have to assume you'll be held to your contract unless you're told otherwise. This isn't their fault, they're not doing anything wrong here.

Get signed off by GP until your official end date with current employer and start the new job in the meantime?

That would be fraud.

If it's clear in your contract, then you're a bit stuck. However it sounds as if the employer is willing to flex a bit. Could you ask whether they can release you earlier if they manage to find a replacement sooner? They ought to be able to find someone reasonably soon. (I don't know who makes the decision in your case - for a teacher, the head has the power to waive the notice period - for you, maybe your boss has to take it a level or two up the chain.)

Does the boss know the reason you were signed off? If you end up signed off ill again, they'll be stuck paying your sick pay but you won't be doing the work - so they may be better to release you sooner to avoid that. You should make sure they know that there is an element of work-related stress.

@MajorCarolDanvers

Get signed off by GP until your official end date with current employer and start the new job in the meantime?

That would be fraud.

Also a bit of a tax problem, given that presumably OP wouldn't get her P45 till well after she started the new job.

Just tell her that you have personal circumstances, namely your mental health. I would tell her if you can’t go when you want, if two months notice you will have to go to the doctor to be signed off as you simply wouldn’t be able to cope, and therefore you won’t be there but they will still have to lay you, assuming you get sick pay