Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Handing in notice - should I really have to give 3 months notice?

26 replies

reastie · 26/01/2012 21:32

I'm a teacher at a private school. I've checked my contract and it seems I need to give a terms notice. People in state system have half a terms notice it seems though Hmm . I've returned from mat leave and am really really struggling, and, tbh, it's not going to get any better. I'm so tired in my time off I can't do anything with dd. It defeats the purpose of being a mum and after another evening of crying non stop I've had enough.

There may be some different work at this school from september (won't know until nearer the time) so I want to keep on their good side. I was hoping to stay until the summer hols, handing my notice in at easter, but I don't know if I can cope that long.

Can it really be right that an employer needs a whole terms notice (ie hand in resignation in april to leave in July) ? It seems unreasonable. I wonder how (un) reasonable it might be to hand in notice at feb half term to stop at easter (given I need to keep on their good side) or how much of a bad move it would be to leave before the possible other job starts - maybe it would be better to grit my teeth (quite literally at the minute)

OP posts:
HarrietJones · 26/01/2012 21:34

I've known teachers (state) to negotiate leaving dates. Can you talk to the head?

sleeplessinderbyshire · 26/01/2012 21:41

I'm not a teacher but the field in which I work 3 months notice is standard some places would try to say 6 months. I know it seems like ages but from their perspective finding a replacement will take way longer than 3 months. 1 month to run the advert 2 weeks to shortlist a week to interview that's 2 months gone and then the sucessful candidate may well have 3 months notice to give. Sorry to hear you are struggling and hating work but I don't think it's likely they'd let you go sooner as it will adversely affter the children's learning

Original poster
reastie · 26/01/2012 21:42

Yes could do, I'm just not sure what the norm is for being a 'good' employee - like I say, I want to stay on their good side for a possible future job and I am already a red light employee (IMO) as I was signed off through out my pg.

OP posts:
OlympicEater · 26/01/2012 21:43

DH in FE education and yes their contracts stipulate a whole term's notice.

In practise not many people end up working their full notice though.

HarrietJones · 26/01/2012 21:44

What happened to your maternity cover? Are they likely to be available to take over again if you leave early? Providing some continuity?

Original poster
reastie · 26/01/2012 21:44

sleep my sort of badly put point was on state sector it's half the notice period - so it must be possible IYKWIM.

OP posts:
Original poster
reastie · 26/01/2012 21:45

harriet it may well be that maternity leave lady would have the job Hmm

OP posts:
HarrietJones · 26/01/2012 21:46

If she is available it might support your leaving early.

flowery · 26/01/2012 22:45

It's not a question of how much time anyone thinks the employer should need. If there is a term's notice period stipulated in your contract, then that's what you need to work.

Having said that if you request to be released early there's a reasonably chance they'd allow that, especially if a replacement is available. But it would be a request to be released early, not just deciding to hand notice in in February and stop at Easter, if that makes sense.

sixtiesqueen · 27/01/2012 20:09

I work in the NHS. I got a new job while I was on maternity leave and by the time I'd worked out handing in my notice (8 weeks required) with going back to work, it was hardly worth me returning as I'd have gone back for a fortnight between maternity and new job.

I spoke to HR department and they advised me to simply back date my resignation. I wrote a letter with some random date in the past on it. I'm not sure it would work in your case but presumably it's allows because it was HR that advices me to do it!!

xmyboys · 29/01/2012 13:52

Hi Reastie!
Remember me from your other post.
We are living identical lives!!
I resigned week 1 of first term (private school), head was going to make me work full term (Easter!!!!AngryAngryAngry)
I was lucky that I had a job share and the other person wanted to increase hours. So we approached head with plan that the other teacher took over at end of first rotation. Win win situation for us. Head and HOD not overly happy but how could they refuse such an obvious sensible option(they just didn't like that they had control!)
My point is yes you might have to work the notice but are any other options? Could you ask if they advertise and someone can start earlier you would be happy to negotiate?
Did we work out that you are too far away for me to job share??Grin

Original poster
reastie · 29/01/2012 18:21

xmy where do you live? I'm in SE England. It's slightly bizarre how we have the same life Hmm . Didn't you have to do a back to teaching course as you'd been out over a year

OP posts:
xmyboys · 29/01/2012 19:33

Yes that's me.
Out of teaching one year and the agency suggest 'a return to teaching course'!!!
I am more SW Sad
I am doing the SAHM thing for a while until the right job comes up closer to home/school.
PS love NOT teaching (marking/prep/parent nights!!) but I do miss being in the classroom.
Hope you can make the right decision soon, will be hard to return to that school though, think if you leave you will burn the bridges. Is it worth holding on for future discount fees??

Original poster
reastie · 29/01/2012 21:20

xmy the thought of working there for at least 10 more years is a little Shock . Plus I don't think we'd afford private school in any case even with less fees Hmm . I'm having a chat with an old colleague tomorrow so hoping she will help me see clearly what to do

OP posts:
xmyboys · 29/01/2012 22:02

Is there someone in your school maybe outside your dept who you can talk to?

iFailedTheTuringTest · 29/01/2012 22:07

If you are really struggling, what about sick leave, if a doc thinks you are anxious or stressed. Alternatively, you could ask employer for gardening leave ?

iFailedTheTuringTest · 29/01/2012 22:08

If you are crying every night, I'm sure a doc would sign you off...

HomeEcoGnomist · 29/01/2012 22:16

With respect, IFailed, I don't think sick leave is appropriate for someone who is 'umming and ahing' about resigning and doesn't like the thought of working a long notice period. As Flowery said, it's a contractual agreement - either mutually agree something else or suck it up.

Original poster
reastie · 30/01/2012 07:37

ifailed I really don't want to be signed off. I was quite unwell when pg and signed off for most of it as I was genuinely completely unable to work. Work were good about it but I couldn't do that to them again both morally if I felt I could work and also 2 long periods of being signed off would not look good on my work record Hmm

OP posts:
Indaba · 01/02/2012 22:36

I am going to get flamed here but, you took a job in the private sector so what the public sector offer is irrelevant.

If you feel you aren't able to work, then you should speak to your Head or HR and ask you have flexibilty. If you feel you need reduced hours then you must speak up.

Shenanagins · 01/02/2012 22:47

If it is possible, speak to them about how you feel and see if you could leave early - do you have any annual leave that you could also use? It all depends on their situation as to whether they are able to let you go early.

However, if it is in your contract then they are under no obligation to let you go early.

EdithWeston · 01/02/2012 22:52

I agree with Indaba. A term's notice isn't unduly long. And to continue being a bit brutally honest, if you are struggling, your performance might be affected. This in turn might have an impact on whether you would be a strong candidate for the role that's coming up in September.

What is the general tone of your school? Many, whichever sector, are generally supportive, especially if they know what is going on. Is there a sympathetic person (eg a member of SMT) who you could talk this through with? It's in their interests to have you performing well, so you might want to think if there are any (reasonable, temporary) adjustments that could be made to your current role to ease things for you.

Also, the question that underlies all this is why you are currently finding it so difficult, and is there anything else you can change to give you more resilience? If it's chronic sleep deprivation or possibly PND, have you seen your GP/HV? Where is your DP/DH in all this? Can you get eg a cleaner? Do you need to adjust you childcare arrangements? Can you import grandparents to give you a whole weekend off to recharge?

Original poster
reastie · 04/02/2012 21:42

Thanks

edith Tbh I feel like it's my home like suffering, not work performance. Granted I'm not as perfect as I was previously, but I'm working mighty hard to do as best as I can. I spent the whole bleeding afternoon today working Sad . FWIW I do have pnd. I can't import grandparents for the week end as they are my childcare and are doing as much as they can already hour wise in the week. I think my ishoos with work are quite complex, but the jist is just I can't manage to do my work in my hours in school (which I know is common, so I'm not looking for sympathy) and I'm finding the stress etc quite alot and just finding the time to do prep is so hard and I'm exhausted when I'm not working now I have no time to enjoy DD. On the other hand though, I do like being an actual person IYKWIM.

I am in the process of requesting less hours. It looks unlikely they will do this but I feel it's worth pursuing before I make a final decision. I understand the 3 months notice thing Hmm

OP posts:
xmyboys · 07/02/2012 19:43

Good luck with the change of hours request Grin
Keep us updated

Original poster
reastie · 07/02/2012 21:44

Thanks xmyboys. Hours decrease is a no go Sad . I'm considering asking my supply if she theoretically would be willing to cover me for a couple of years and ask for a sabbatical. It's unlikely but worth a go, all they can say it no. I'm debating whether to grin and bear it and just keep working too. I wonder if once I've got the students trained how I like them things might settle down a little and maybe things won't be so bad [hopeful and perhaps wishful thinking]

OP posts: