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Original poster

Excessive notice period - would you not take a promotion to avoid?

18 replies

CulturalBear · 18/05/2015 13:44

I have recently moved to a different team within the department, ostensibly to replace someone who was on the band above, but have been given a different job title (a new made-up one) to keep me on the lower banding despite doing the same/similar work as a colleague on the band above.

He recently announced he's leaving, and our boss has made a couple of noises that I could be in-line for a promotion of sorts to take me to the higher band. It makes sense as he's lost all his senior staff in a couple of months, and I am doing a lot of supervising of temps on the same wage as me.

Here's the rub. The next band up requires a four-month notice period, which, frankly, is ridiculous. The role is not so specialist as to warrant that at all, and I'm worried that if I were to be offered an improvement to my terms I would then be sacrificing potential future career moves. I've had employers (ironically, including this one) baulk at 4 weeks notice before, let alone four months.

Is it possible to renegotiate this before agreeing to something? Could I just leave without serving it in a hypothetical future? Would you consider turning down a promotion (and £4k payrise) because of an excessive notice period?

My partner thinks I'm mad for even thinking about it - but it's bothering me. I want to be prepared in case I get asked on the fly... Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

Original poster

CulturalBear · 18/05/2015 15:25

(Have reposted in AIBU for traffic)...

OP posts:

Coincidenceschmoincidence · 18/05/2015 21:11

Interesting. I've been thinking similar. Others on my level are now on 3 month notice periods but my contract has never been changed even though my pay increased significantly when I was promoted.

I think I've slipped through the net and am trying to keep it that way. 4 months seems crazy though, 3 is bad enough - there's virtually no way to go from job to job which is i guess why they do it - to tie you in.

Coincidenceschmoincidence · 18/05/2015 21:12

To answer your question, if you're happy there for the moment and like the idea of promotion, I'd probably take it.

MorelloKisses · 18/05/2015 21:15

They have to give you that notice if they make you redundant though, so works both ways...

caroldecker · 18/05/2015 21:28

Its not to tie you into the job for life, it is so they can recruit a replacement. Most senior jobs expect 3-4 months notice to be given.

KatharineClifton · 18/05/2015 21:33

What are the penalties if you don't give 4 months notice?

measles64 · 18/05/2015 21:34

I had to give two months notice for a lowly part-time job. Accrued holiday not to be taken within that time. Time did drag and I was pushed hard once I had handed my notice in. It felt like a punishment.

AlternativeTentacles · 18/05/2015 21:41

4 k payrise? Are you sure that isn't just going to bring you into line with what you should be being paid now?

LongHardStare · 18/05/2015 21:50

Don't let it put you off, as MorelloKisses says it means they can't get rid of you quickly either. In practice I've often noticed that people with long notice periods rarely work them. They negotiate it down (once they've been offered aother position), maybe use up their annual leave to bring it down more. If you actually find yourself in the situation, your employers won't want you there against your will as you will hardly be doing a good job, so it is their interests to be reasonable.

measles64 · 18/05/2015 22:21

I would just walk I am afraid.

flowery · 18/05/2015 22:38

Well, what's more likely to help you secure a good future career move? A promotion for your CV or a short notice period?

Original poster

CulturalBear · 19/05/2015 13:52

It has been argued for some time that I should have been on a higher wage due to the level of responsibility I had, including recruiting an incompetent manager two bands above me who I effectively had to lead for - but as an organisation there is a history of not rewarding informal acting up - or of getting rid of people who shouldn't be in the job.

The notice period would be good protection, that is true, but it still feels excessively long.

I know they need to recruit people, but it shouldn't take that long - whilst I, myself, may have personal characteristics that are useful, I am not irreplaceable by any stretch of the imagination. This place has a habit of dragging its heels over hiring, that is true, but I don't feel that that is worth punishing employees over! Basically, if you replaced me with someone from a private sector equivalent (likely in this area), they would probably only need to give 4 weeks notice to replace the role.

I have no idea what would happen if I were to just walk, and that's part of my issue. I guess the risks are bad reference, bad reputation, pay being stopped, possibly being sued (unlikely).

I'm minded to raise it at the outset - ie if I get offered something, to ask about it there and then.

I have a friend who recently emigrated and wasn't allowed to reduce notice period - (completely arbitrary as they never backfilled her post properly so there was no reason for this), so there isn't great precedent!

Really appreciate your insight though - I never knew long notice periods were so widespread. In every place I have ever worked, it's always been statutory leave required ie one week for every year worked, minimum 4 weeks, maximum 12. As I've only been here 3 years (in different roles) 16 weeks therefore seems very very long!

OP posts:

Enidblytonrules · 19/05/2015 15:43

Do long notice periods have to be 2 way though? Heard of at least 1 employer who tried to enforce 3 months on their staff giving notice whilst retaining the right to give 1 month's notice themselves. This is for just above minimum wage job.

rockybalboa · 19/05/2015 15:49

I quit work earlier this year and had a 3 month notice period. I negotiated my way out of it (had about 6 weeks notice in the end) as we were relocating to the other end of the country at relatively short notice. I would have left on the date I needed to leave even if they hadn't agreed it. I guess it boils down to whether or not you think they will sue you if you leave before they agree. I suspect a lot of employers wouldn't bother to be honest but obviously I don't know that for sure!

rockybalboa · 19/05/2015 15:50

I should say that in the industry I was in (legal) 3 months notice period is very standard.

MajesticWhine · 19/05/2015 15:52

It's not unusual in a senior post. I think DH is on 6 months or maybe even more. It is not usually necessary to serve out the notice period. I wouldn't worry about it. But yes you could try to negotiate on the terms if you aren't happy with them. Is 4k enough of a payrise?

Kewcumber · 19/05/2015 15:57

I have always negotiated my way out of long notice periods (6 months plus) it's very hard to enforce long notice periods on employee

Kewcumber · 19/05/2015 15:58

And if they won;t negotiate it out, what are they going to do? Handcuff you to a desk?

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