I have decided to relocate to New Zealand in June. The sector I work in would be considered corporate, but there is a severe staffing issue industry wide.
In December, 3 of my 4 colleagues handed in their notice leaving only my manager and I for January. While we survived January, achieving February deadlines are proving to be incredibly frustrating and stressful. It’s become clear my manager relied heavily on one of the former employees and isn’t as equipped for the role, we both started at the same time so I never noticed any issues beforehand.
My manager is currently training in a new member of staff, a former colleague of mine that I recommended, and has become incredibly hard to contact. No one else has been hired because no one “skilled” enough has applied. Consequently, I’ve been left with a lot of managerial duties but little support. I stay and work overtime while she finishes early most days.
My contracted notice period is one month. I’m caught between notifying them sooner i.e. 6-8 weeks in advance so that they can start to recruitment process, or sticking to the contracted one month. The reason why I feel I should is because this has been one of my most stressful months of work I’ve ever experienced, and wouldn’t wish it on anyone especially new hires (I am a new hire and would leave the company A.S.A.P. if I knew I wasn’t relocating so I am “sticking” it out).
To put it into perspective, company wide, at least ten people have left since I started only four months ago. I obviously would like to receive a glowing reference when I leave but feel based on current performance that shouldn’t be an issue.
Would I be unreasonable to stick to months notice? I’m afraid to shoot myself in the foot incase they let me go sooner.