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?

Well done OP

Get out and away as fast as you can . . . . they have ballsed up. Good luck with your new position. . . . they (present company) don't deserve you.

Fabulous news. I would however OP consider deleting the thread just so that nothing spills over into your new role. Although you haven't identified anyone, it might be recognisable for those you mention. Just a thought.

Yup, seconding that one, Justtheone

Well done op, really chuffed for you. I also came along to ask you to consider deleting this, I got this link in the daily round up and I feel as wonderful as you are there's a fair amount of personal information in here.
Well done, you're an incredible person :)

I applaud you OP. Not just for how you've handled this post-resignation shenanigans, but for having the balls (metaphorically speaking) to recognise that what they wanted you to do wasn't the right fit for you.

It's nothing but beneficial to them for you to have done this, if only they would have recognised it.

Of course, if employers promoted based on skills and aptitudes we wouldn't see so many (men, mostly, but women too) moving from senior officer roles into manager roles based on their competence in the existing role, and the assumption that they're going to be equally competent in the new role! (The Peter Principle: people rise to the level of their incompetence). Incompetence in the sense of not having the right competencies for that role, not being an idiot - the organisation's interviewing and recruiting methodologies should tease that out to ensure the right people move into the right roles.

You've tried repeatedly to raise your concerns about the strategic direction of the department and the role you're doing now and they haven't listened. That's their error.

Personally, if I were a director and you worked for me with your obvious level of commitment, competence and engagement for the salary that you are on, I'd be working with you in any way I could to ensure you were able to continue to develop your competencies, skills and experience. I'd be coming to you to ask you what you thought about x y or z. That's what you're supposed to do! Hopefully a learning experience for the company (well, let's hope so).

Glad you've had a good resolution and all the best in your next role!

It astounds me that people don’t even read an OP’s updates before piling in with their opinion...600+ posts into a thread. Do you really not think things might have moved on a tad?, 😂

A fascinating thread and a great update. I wish you the very best of luck in your new job, although you obviously don't need luck because you're awesome 😬

Congratulations on your new job! This is rather a tangential comment, but if you are forced into working outside the office in the next few months but need human interaction, can you find a co-working space? There are tons in hipster areas of London, but I'm sure they exist in the North West as well. I made a move to freelance a few years ago which involved working from home a lot - I found that for me it was a case of structure, structure, structure. Work, then have time for a supermarket run, work then a group gym class - intersperse being alone with human contact.

NotJanet, thank you for this thread. I only came in to it late and I've read the majority of it, all your posts, some people's posts that made me grrr, and lots of good posts too (FermatsTheorem is the dogs!).

So, I'm deleted you got a decent result out of all of this. I love working from home, but it is not for everyone and no one should be forced into it. But, mostly, it's been a real pleasure to "meet" you, a woman who knows what she wants, is not afraid to go with it and does even when after a stressful meeting she pukes up in a bush. That's strength of character! You're wonderful and I hope your future is full of all the good things that you so rightly deserve.

I see no reason why Janet should delete this thread

the chances of others in her very small organisation spotting it and putting 2+2 together are so small

and its such a fantastic motivational resource - it should stay

I'm constantly gobsmacked that I am not outed more as I post under basically the same name on several sites for the last 11 years and have given out TONS of identifiable stuff
the world is bigger than you think

and the issues that Janet has faced are depressingly ubiquitous
so its great that she has risen above it

Congratulations OP. I am in awe of your negotiation skills!
Good luck with the new job.

If it’s a direct copy and paste it’s not hard to recognise.

OP, I want to be you when I grow up (I'm 43).

Good result OP

Well done OP!
Also glad to hear your salary has increased as some of our admin staff are paid £35k and it’s the starting point for our graduate position not Head of Dept! (Different industry)

Great result OP. This thread is fantastic and very empowering. You'll go far in life. Good luck!

Well done for sorting it - but WOW !! I don't think I've ever read any thread where the OP has such a high opinion of themselves !! You're in digital marketing, and maybe a specialist sector of it, but anyone would think you were the only person in the North West that's ever done what you do, or is even capable of it.

While I admire you in standing up to your bosses, your replies make you sound like a total big head.

@mummaloves
Why in this day & age can't we say we're bloody good at our jobs without someone saying we're being big headed? People need to be able to believe in themselves without others putting them down imo.

Just a thought...wouldn't someone holding down such a senior position know how to spell 'definitely'? Or is that some kind of joke?

Read all the way through before commenting... Good move popping in and catching the CEO.

Well done OP. I hope everything turns out the way you want it to 👌

Good luck OP. I was feeling pretty carp tonight as I have just left a job that I enjoyed to take a big step up with a new Company. Turns out my ex-employer has been bad-mouthing me to all and sundry saying I have left some work in a mess and blaming me for things that were nothing to do with me. I was pretty upset earlier but reading your thread has made me feel better. I am holding my head high and moving on.

Mummaloves - I totally disagree with you. This idea that to be proud of yourself makes you big headed is another way of keeping women 'in their place'.

There is NOTHING wrong with being confident in your abilities and proud of what you've achieved. More women should be like that.

Agree with Hammy - if you know you're good at your job, and one of a very few people with those skills, why be shy about it? Bollocks to the self-deprecating nonsense that women should be quiet about their abilities and achievements!

You've done grand lass