AIBU if I've resigned they can't make me go?

[Choupelle]

Any HR people around?

I'm meeting with my line manager on Tues to tell him I'm leaving. Ideally I'd like to leave in March but could go in February if needed.

My plan was to speak to him on Tues and then put in my resignation with my leaving date. I'm only required to give 4 weeks notice but in reality didn't want to dump and run. So trying to be reasonable.

I'm supposed to go to a work conference later in January which I really don't want to go. It's cheesy pom-pom waving for a company that's failing its targets and seems to have its head in the sand. It would be a waste of money for them as its basically a networking/motivational event.

Basically if I've resigned, can they make me go?

Are there any levers HR could pull to actually make me go?

If I say no, what's the worst that could happen?

I don't need a reference as I'm basically giving up work for semi retirement and I have others who could give me a reference if needed (but hopefully never again!).

I don't want to fall out with my line manager as I've enjoyed working with him and I'd like to leave on good terms, but I'm not interested in being away from home for a week either.

I'd guess they wouldn't want to waste money on sending you. Placemarking to find out if I'm right. 😊

I pinkie promise to update once I've had the chat!

I’d send an email resigning today, that way your 4 week notice would be done in theory by late Jan.

The only thing that would make me pause is the redundancy. You say you won't be in the pool but is there possibly anyway you could choose to take redundancy on behalf of someone who doesn't want to be made redundant?

I quite get the bit of reading the signs that it might happen. I started talking to my manager about our department shutting in a year or two, wouldn't it be great to get a redundancy payout vs having to find a new job etc. 6 months later it happened. Only thing that would have made me happier is if I had another year or so under my belt. But being made redundant at 64 after nearly 15 years meant a wonderful payout. And as soon as I mentioned it to someone in a different organisation they started talking about me coming and working with them. Sweet!!

😀👍

Why wouldn't you wait to be made redundant?

I'd grit my teeth for that (and have done, much to the then employer's annoyance). And despite what they're saying, somebody who worked out what they were doing in advance and is older/quite expensive can suddenly find themselves not needed and not given any alternative roles.

So I promised an update!

I took the advice and went in with the approach of 'I'm not going to the event to save the company money because I'm leaving, so there's no point'. My boss had no problem with it at all. He said it made sense and to just decline it.

I told him I wanted to leave and I was giving him lots of notice so we could work out an exit plan. He was grateful I hadn't just dumped and run. So really glad I did that.

He also said he'll see what he can do regarding putting me in the redundancy pool! I think there's about a 25% chance if I'm honest but we'll see.

So all in all I was glad I laid my cards on the table and said what I wanted (even though it was all about meeeeeee 😂).

Feel so relieved!

Good outcome!

Glad it worked out OP

Good update OP and I hope that you are successful with redundancy and getting a pay-out.

Not something you often wish people, but if you are planning on leaving anyway it would be nice to leave with a pay-off.

Thanks for updating! I hope all goes well going forward.

Great update @Choupelle Your boss sounds like a good'un. Hope he manages to put you in the redundancy pool - which probably means you'll need to keep the fact you want to leave on the down low for now? 🌹

Thanks everyone.

I'm trying to be evasive about what's going on. I had to tell one person who I was going to the event with that I was leaving (not about redundancies) otherwise they'd think I'd left them in the lurch for no reason. I trust that person not to tell anyone and I know they're keen to leave as soon as possible anyway. I know they are not happy and said that I'm absolutely doing the right thing.

I'm getting push back from the event organisers ('this is the first I've heard of it' comments), but I'm just brushing them off and referring them to others for help. I think there will be a few more raised eyebrows but no matter, I'll keep schtum until the redundancies are announced or if I don't make the pool I'll just put in my resignation 4 weeks before I go.

So I may have spoken too soon!

The seniors are now questioning my boss on why I'm not going. He doesn't seem phased by it and has booked an appointment with them to explain what's going on.

Suspect they'll call my bluff and just say let her resign then. That's my predicted outcome. But to be honest, it's not a problem as I never expected to get redundancy anyway. Was really a long shot!

Feel like a naughty school kid now, waiting outside the Headmasters office 😂

Ah it doesn’t look promising for the redundancy- but you weren’t holding out much hope, anyway.