AIBU: to not want to work 13 weeks notice now I've quit my job!

[blues2pinks0]

I quit my job on Monday. My husband and I used to both work PT and shared care of our 2 kids. He got made redundant and decided he wanted to go back to work FT and really go for it with his career - a decision which I fully support. We can't really use childcare as ds2 has an immune-deficiency so gets ill a lot and is in and out of hospital so it wouldn't really be fair or practical. We don't have family that can help on a permanent basis due to other commitments and ill health. So it made sense for me to stay at home FT. i'm really looking forward to it.

Then on Weds boss dropped bombshell I would be required to all of my 13 weeks notice - I was really surprised as that length of notice is usually used only if employee is going to a competitor or is part-way through a major piece of work - neither of which is the case for me. i thought I'd get away with 4-5 weeks.

Boss knows how long notice I wanted to give, and my reasons for leaving but says contractually I have to give 13 weeks. I've got no childcare for the last 7 weeks - there is no way I can work it, apart fromm doing evenings working from home. This is a nightmare. AIBU or is it him?

YABU.

If you didn't like the notice period why did you sign the contract and take the job?

I suggest you sort out some childcare asap because legally you have an obligation to work the notice period.

Your boss could have let you out of it (provided he has the authority to do so, and he may not) but for whatever reason, you signed a contract agreeing to do it.

everything Expat said i'm afraid

you could try to negotiate with your Boss if things are still even vaugely civil/friendly

has your DH already found a new job?

Yes - dh already got new job and start date in a couple of weeks. we set the start date after a discussion with my manager when he indicated I could leave within a couple of weeks. Then this week after i gave formal resignation letter he had changed his mind. When I go he's not allowed to back fill the role, coz we're making people redundant at the mo' so he wants to hang onto me as long as he can.
Hopefully I can work most of it at home I'm just disappointed because under the circumstances I thought he could be more flexible. And a bit stressed that I will have kids (they are 3 and 1) FT and need to work 21 hours, answer emails, phone calls etc. I only work 3 days a week and the work I can do can easily be incorporated into other people's roles - in fact a few people have already showed an interest in picking it up.

'I'm just disappointed because under the circumstances I thought he could be more flexible.'

But the circumstances for him is that in 13 weeks he will be down a staff person and not allowed to make a replacement.

I understand you have a family to look after, but he also has a team to manage and he's going to have to re-delegate your work.

TBH, too, you made him for a referral in the future so it's a good idea to try to stay in his good books.

if you signed a contract saying 13weeks then yes yabu

if you lost your job, i assume you would get 13weeks notice

you wouldnt be happy if you only got 4 weeks

works both ways

Sorry yabu, he is simply holding you to the terms of the contract you agreed. Presumably within that 13 weeks you would have some paid holiday accrued ie about a quarter of the annual allowance, plus bank holidays (3 or 4) within the next 3 months.

It does sound a long time but it might be difficult for him to fill your post and train someone up in less time.

I would check your contract details to be sure of the facts and see if you can come up with a compromise.

I assume that your DH is now in FT employment so ....

If you have any unused holiday accrued you may be able to include that in your notice period. Your leaving date for notice purposes would be dd/mm/yyyy but your actual leaving date would be earlier as you would be on leave prior to your leaving date.

Another option might be to "buy" an extra few weeks of leave by sacrificing some salary each week (i did this when I wanted to work term time only). I worked my normal hours each week but was paid a lower monthly salary. The difference was "paid" in extra annual leave.

I don't know how old your kids are but you are entitled to 4 weeks unpaid parental leave until they are about 6yrs old and I think 18yrs old if disabled - Look into it.

As you work PT can't you get anyone to help with the kids over the 7 weeks you haven't made arrangements for during the hours you need to be away fromn home - perhaps you could juggle your days to fit ( keeping the hours the same).

Hope some of these suggestions help

Failing that - are you feeling well, I believe there are a lot of bugs going round keeping people off work at the moment!! (not that I am suggesting anything of course) .

Your probably right. Everyone at work was pretty surprised he was exercising the 13 weeks clause but they're saying it to my face so they're probably just trying to be nice.

At least I know I've only got to muddle through for another few weeks.

But I'd like to say about 'if I didn't like the notice period why did I sign the contract' - I signed it 6 years ago, pre-children. If I had any idea then that I would be going through the whole crappy series of events that would lead up to making this decision maybe I would've asked for shorter notice.

Anyway I'm one week down now so only 12 to go.

Actually haven't been well at all - had pleurisy at xmas so was off for two weeks, and just had lovely stomach bug - but managed to do that on day I wasn't working. Since xmas been getting increasingly stressed out about work / home juggling act. But really didn't want to take time off sick for that as i do usually have to be dying before I'll take a day off.

YABU, my work always makes people serve out their 3 month notice period.