12 weeks + notice periods

[Ellypoo]

Hi
I just have a quick question please - if any of you have longer than standard notice periods, eg 12 weeks/3 months or longer, what notice periods do your employers need to give to you? And is it shorter for the first months/years (eg 4 weeks notice for the first 2 years) and then increasing, or is it matched, or does it increase over time?
Just wondering what is normal really. I have been with my employer a long time, so they would have to give me 12 weeks notice (I have to give them 12 weeks too), but that's not the case for some new starters, so was just wondering what other employers do.

It depends what the contract says.

Ive been on 3 months before, both sides but most my roles have been 1month.

From experience it depends on seniority within the business and/or speciality of the role meaning it may take longer to replace hence the longer notice period. It's common for people within the same company to have different notice periods.

It's contractual so it can be anything. It tends to depend on the industry. In mine three months is the norm, although for a few very senior people it can be a year.

I am just wondering if a person has to give 3 months notice though, that they would expect the employer to give them 3 months notice as well?

I'm interested in what contracts say for people in other businesses/industries really.

We changed the notice periods for senior/key staff last year so that they have to give us 12 weeks notice, which we reciprocated, but for new people who we employ at a senior grade - they have to give us 12 weeks notice, but we only have to give them 4 weeks for the first 4 years of employment, then it increases by 1 week for every year of service up to a maximum of 12 weeks.

Someone has questioned it, so I just wanted to find out what notice other organisations give, when they have people on 3 months notice to them iyswim.

Matching notice periods is most common I think, and fairest also. Doesn't feel right to me expecting someone to give a lot of notice unless you are prepared to reciprocate.

i know someone whose employer had to give her 12 months notice, but she only had to give them 3. Can work all ways round.

I'm on 6 months from them but i only have to give 3. They'd left me on a one month mutual notice for so long that when they requested to increase it, i was in a position to negotiate a longer period from them (and 6 months is pretty standard here for senior level - it's the three months i've got a great deal on, as they hold people to notice periods. the silly sods)

Great, thank you!

Would it be sensible to have a 4 week notice period for the first year though, and then match it afterwards, or would it be best practice to match it straightaway, as long as the probation period has been successfully completed?

I don't want to leave us exposed if we need to 'sack' of someone who hasn't worked out for us for whatever reason within the first year or so of employment, whilst being as fair as possible.

Well I prefer matching, but that's my personal preference and it's a commercial decision.

I normally say keep a short notice period for probation, and if probation is handled well, an organisation should either be able to make a decision about sticking with the person, in which case it should be able to commit to a matching notice period, or if it is still not sure, extend the probation and therefore the period of short notice requirements.

But as I say, that's my own personal preference. I do have clients who give less than they ask from employees, although most match once probation is completed.

Great, thanks Flowery - that's really helpful.

My last company I was in we had to give them 3 month notice , the notice they had to give us accrued over 4-5 years (did t realise that until mass redundacy which affected lots of people and everyone started looking at their contracts).

I had a 6 month probation with 30/60/90 day reviews - you can generally tell if the person will be a good fit (and of course it goes both way, they can leave if they aren't happy.)
Then I'm on 3 months notice on both sides. It's fine as long as I stay in my current country/ seniority level, but you could run into problems recruiting for a more globally mobile workforce. For example, someone on a three month notice would be disadvantaged trying to move to a job in the USA.