To ask to delay start date

[BeeUffy]

I'm starting a new job in just over a month. They were quite keen (but not pushy) for me to start on a particular date. With my notice period at current job, this means I will finish my old job on a Tuesday and start the new one on the Wednesday. It's a similar kind of job so I thought it would be ok but the closer it gets the more I think I'd be absolutely bonkers to do this. Even in a similar role it's a new job and will be exhausting.

I'd like to ask to delay my start date until the following week so I can have at least a weekend in between. It's a case of starting 3 working days later. Is it unprofessional to agree to a start date and then ask to delay it or is it fine and not a big deal?

And yes, I do overthink things a lot.

Is it unprofessional to agree to a start date and then ask to delay it or is it fine and not a big deal?

Yes, it's unprofessional. You made an agreement, stick to it. If I were your new manager and you asked to delay your start date, I would not be impressed. I advise strongly against getting off on the wrong foot in your new job.

I agree with this sorry

I also agree with this

I'd prefer to start on the Wednesday, it's a short first week then

They must have had that date in mind for a reason so I think it would be too inconvenient to ask them to change it. At least it will be a shorter week and you know that they are ready and prepared for you on Wednesday...rather than a lot of places where they don't have everything set up for you and just get you to shadow people who hate being shadowed!

What is is exactly that you're worried about?

What's your relationship like with your current management? I had a similar situation so asked my previous job if I could finish a couple days earlier even though it meant I was a couple days shy of my notice period. They let me take it as unpaid annual leave. Might that be an option?

Depends on your new manager. I had to delay my start date my two weeks at relatively late notice and it was no problem at all. But we're a very flexible team (which I made sure to find out before I joined). I've had new team members change their start dates too, for example because they're moving house, and it's never been an issue.

I would see if you can finish the job you're leaving the previous Friday instead.

I’d think with a months notice it should be ok but ideally can you call and speak to someone about it? We had specific start dates so if you missed one it would be another 2 weeks before you could join. Best to see what the driver is for the Wednesday start date

I would try leaving the existing job earlier first.

Annoy the ex employer instead of the new employer if you can.

If I were the new manager, I wouldn't really mind too much but I know it would remain in the back off my mind & if there was an further expected requests in the first couple of weeks, it would start to annoy me but a once off, I'd be fine with.

Yeah it's unprofessional. Try leaving the other job first. Or the fact that you'll have only just had a weekend 2 days before you start so shouldn't be too bad.

Yes, try to finish early, even if it's a couple of days unpaid, it would amount to about the same thing.

I'd definitely try to end your current role the Friday before. It gives you the weekend and a couple of days to regroup, without ticking off your new employer. While I completely get where you're coming from, you don't want to rock the boat at your new job before you're even in.

One of my new team members asked to put back their start date by a week, but given we had their schedules for induction already in place a couple of months before it'd have been really inconvenient. They started on time and show all the signs of being a fantastic person to have on board - but we were initially wary, given that request (and a couple of others). No regrets now though!

If new job is in the same sector, waiting till the next week may affect your long service record and employment rights.

Plus the new place may have already set you up on their HR systems and a change could mean either your first paycheck gets delayed, or that they have to delay you by a full month due to induction processes (I have seen this happen with a large London based employer).

Or it could be more simple and your start date may relate to someone else being on hand to show you the ropes (either the outgoing person or a manager who has leave booked the next week for example).

Whatever it is, as others have said, it is likely to be far easier and simpler to try and negotiate your last 2 working days in your current job to unpaid leave.

Thanks for all the replies, that's really helpful and that was my worry, I don't want to start there with them thinking I'm a flake. I will speak to current manager and ask if I can take 2 days unpaid leave just to have a rest in between.

Go off sick for your final weeks at old job?

I wouldn't do that even if I didn't like my manager (which I do)