Handed Notice In and All Hell Broke Loose...

[MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet]

I handed my notice in at work yesterday, it did not go the way I was expecting and I need to know where I stand legally.

For context, it's a fairly senior position, a big jump up the ladder for me and it took them 6 months to find someone to hire into my role before they got me. I've only been in the role 6 months. Over those 6 months, it's become abundantly clear that I'm not the right person for this particular role. They need someone with strategic skills and I'm a technician. I'm bloody good at my job and an industry expert, but they don't need that skill, they need someone who can do the big picture stuff with clients and that's not me. I've stopped enjoying the job and I do feel that it was mis-sold to me at the interview stage, but I'm not bitter about that. I tried it, it didn't work out.

I gave these reasons when I handed in my notice but my line manager was apoplectic with rage. She called me a liar and accused me of using her/ the company as a leg up and that this had been my intention all along (I'm going to an equally senior role in a much bigger specialist agency). This is completely untrue. The job I'm going to is a technical role and much more in line with my skill set but at the same level as now iyswim.

She walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her and told me to leave the office immediately. So I did and have had no contact since.

WTF do I do now? I haven't gone in to the office today but I've been responding to client emails as usual this morning as there's stuff I need to get done.

I've since realised I was never asked to return my signed contract when I was hired and found it in my collection of papers this morning. I have signed it, but they don't have a copy.

I REALLY don't want to go back to the office after yesterday, but I have a 6 month notice period so not having to serve this would be great. I'm not sure where I stand legally. I'm prepared to hitch up my big girl pants and go back in but I'm not sure if they're going to want that so my questions are:

Legally, do they have to pay me for my 6 month notice period even though they've asked me to leave the office (they haven't asked me to leave my position yet).

As they don't have evidence of my signed contract, do I have to serve out my 6 months?

I want to hand over things properly and make sure they've got a plan for my leaving, but should I even care about this after yesterday? I don't want to leave my team in the lurch

Also, the new company is not a competitor of any kind with my current one.

Help?

Good luck op

Good luck NotJanet.

At a guess you are suffering from a small organisation with amateur HR and poorly documented processes?

You would be within your rights to require the documented process/procedures before attending a meeting. However as you already have another job sewn up I'd guess its about negotiating money and HR person is just out of their depth.

You have all your appraisal/feedback documented which would make any attempt to dismiss you (and save money) difficult.

Are you in a small consulting type organisation or expert services arm of a vendor? IME small orgs of this type often make the assumption that technical skills and offering development skills are swappable. They rarely are.

Wtf distance call? You’d give up 6 months salary? You’re crazy! OP is entitled to it why shouldn’t she get it?

there is no right for a lawyer to accompany you to these meetings so not sure why a lawyer is suggesting for you to be accompanied by one.

I think the question up thread about what do you want from them is key. If you want to be released from the notice period to start a new job then they might be fine with that or a reduced notice anyway.

good luck at your meeting

OP, thanks for explaining it to me, and I get the dates now. However, with it only being two days between offer letter and probation ended, I would've either done what a PP suggested - tried to extend the probationery period OR got an informal letter in advance from the new company. It's not weeks, it's just two days and it does look a bit strange.

However, I hope you get it sorted to everyone's satisfaction

Best of luck OP.

Dropping off my best wishes too! Good luck!

What notice period do they have to give you? Check the contract. You have to give 6 months, maybe the contract says they only need to give you statutory (ie, a week as you've only been there 6 months). You're not "entitled" to anything that isn't in your contract. I would just try and negotiate an early release. As long as you both agree to it then they will just pay you until you leave.

Good luck OP. Let us know what happens.

Good luck for tomorrow

My only advice is to be reasonable. You may think you’re shit hot, but you’re 27 and inexperienced. Don’t piss people off, life is long and you don’t know what the future holds.

If your starting position is that you’re happy to work 6 months, take anything less than that as a bonus. You’ve not treated them maturely, employment at the sort of level you describe is a two-way relationship.

At a guess, I’d say walking away after a period of handover/helping to recruit your replacement, and at least 3 months’ pay (whether worked or not) is a decent position. Sure you could hold out for more, but it’s only money and it sounds very much like relationships matter in your line of work.

They recruited you to do a strategy-type job and clearly didn’t communicate that correctly or probably pay you enough. You’re not skilled at high-level strategy, and also didn’t communicate your issues clearly enough. Six of one and half a dozen of the other. You’re in no better a position than them, despite your “entitlement”.

You're not "entitled" to anything that isn't in your contract. I would just try and negotiate an early release. As long as you both agree to it then they will just pay you until you leave.

^This.

Stick to your Guns and good luck!.

"In terms of what I actually want: I’m genuinely not bothered, I want out but I’m more than happy to serve 6 months business as usual as that was my plan before all this!"

Then why are you bricking it? You have nothing to lose. March into that meeting room, slump in the chair, stick your feet on the desk, crack your knuckles then say "So..." followed by a Joker grin.

Good luck in your meeting

Good luck!

Good luck OP! I wish I'd been as with it as you at 27! At about the same age I verbally told my boss after 2 months I wanted to leave because they'd mis-sold he role to me, he said fair enough, and by the time I'd walked back to my office on the other side of the building he'd cancelled my IT access (they had to reinstate it so I could formally email my notice ). I went on gardening leave even though I was leaving the industry, they had no HR structure or experience either. I hope the meeting goes well, you've got this!

Good luck, Not Janet - Just wanted you to know that "I'm shit-hot at my job - I've got this!' is one of the best things I've read on this site! You are awesome. x

Bizarre - good luck!

Best of luck! Will be waiting for updates.

Senior jobs in any field (I'm an academic) need strategists - this and the way you have behaved in nor delaying your probation shows your lack experience and strategic skills. You will meet these people again along the way. There is not such thing as a very senior management/executive technician.

Good luck OP!

Good luck!!

It seems like you hold all the cards, but I hope things don’t get nasty.