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Original poster

Handed Notice In and All Hell Broke Loose...

691 replies

MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 05/07/2018 09:05

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 Sad

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

Help?

OP posts:
Bekabeech · 07/07/2018 07:33

@Devora13 "Definitely" is one of the words I misspell, and I have a Doctorate (I also consistently misspelt "below" in my thesis causing my supervisor despair). Lots of senior professionals have issues with spelling, it's not really the number one factor in selecting for such a position. And when you get to CEO level there are even more who struggle.

Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 08:20

I love the spelling comments about how I can’t possibly be in a senior position because I can’t spell, as if all jobs now come with a spelling test Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 08:29

Also the big headed comment: sure, you can feel that way about a woman who can talk about her value to a business or who can explain she’s bloody good at what she does.

However, can you imagine if more women were a little bit big headed? What if our narrative of ourselves was ‘im great at what I do’ or even just ‘I’m enough’, what then?

It’s not your fault you feel like that about a woman talking openly about her skills, we’re really so unaccustomed to it as a society that it’s only natural that you’d feel the need to highlight its irregularity.

If you come across someone like me again in the future, check your feelings about her before you form your reaction. Would you feel this way if I had a penis? If a man said to you ‘I’ve got this set of skills and I’m really good at it, you should match my salary expectations b cause of that’ would you object?

You might object to a man making the same comment about himself, in which case you should probably address that. What is it about a person talking about their value that upsets you?

OP posts:
Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 08:32

I’ll climb back down of my soapbox now, as you were Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 08:33

*off

OP posts:
Pippylou · 07/07/2018 08:40

Concentrate on the good karma that you've spread with this thread, rather than the really quite odd snipy comments.

I'm a pedantic speller, but given the stress you were under & the fact this is an informal internet forum*, moaning on about a wee typo is pathetic.

Misses the point about getting to the best, most positive result, doesn't it?

  • Go on any forum for various (mainly men's) sports if you want to have a field day with spelling moans.
Gah81 · 07/07/2018 08:42

Good for you, OP. Well done.

And hear, hear on your soapbox stuff: nothing wrong with being assertive and having confidence in one's skill set. I earn more than any other man in my company at my level in a male-dominated industry (nearly 6 figures in my early 30s): 1) because I am better at the job but mostly 2) because I wasn't afraid to point this out and negotiate pay rise after pay rise, highlighting the concrete achievements I have made.

I have been called "feisty" more often than I care to remember (only by men of course) but it's worth it to take home £10-20k more a year.

And it is not because I am uniquely brilliant, I just know my own worth and am not afraid to take the opportunities to talk about it in pay discussions/appraisals.

Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 08:43

It was a great result, wasn’t expecting him to agree to a firm 3 months instead of 6 but I think he realised I’m going to be far more helpful if I’m on side.

I have it in writing and new job are very happy I can start after 3 months, although I’ve asked to start in 4 and I’m going to take 4 weeks off :)

OP posts:
FantasticButtocks · 07/07/2018 08:43

Bloody good for you OP! Grin I read this whole thread yesterday and I am utterly impressed! You sound very much like my daughter who is the same age, and also is fantastic at her job, knows her own mind and is highly articulate, and I'm always very impressed with her too!

I'm so, so sorry to hear your mum is no longer alive, she must have been so proud of her clever daughter.

Reading some of the patronising and rude comments and put downs about your age, your confidence and even your spelling...bloody hell! It makes some (rather pathetic) people feel better to put someone in their place I suppose, what a shame.

You've done brilliantly! SmileThanksGrin

AStatelyPleasureDome · 07/07/2018 08:54

I am sure that one of the main reasons that men still earn more than women at many levels is not a differential in ability but in confidence. So very well done to you OP - the world is your lobster!

SaveBandit · 07/07/2018 08:55

Well done @MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet. It's so refreshing to see someone who knows they are worth more and makes sure others realise this too. I hope the next three months work out and your manager doesn't make things difficult.

Congratulations on your new job Wine

eddielizzard · 07/07/2018 09:12

Sounds great. It's time we had confidence in our abilities.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 07/07/2018 09:26

The thing is, if we don't have and show confidence in our own abilities,, why should anyone else?

VelociraptorRex · 07/07/2018 10:15

Well done OP, you're an inspiration to women and girls everywhere, I wish I'd been more like oh when I was younger, and I hope we have many more like you! Smile

frasier · 07/07/2018 10:23

Well done! Ignore the nasty comments, says more about them etc.

Shellekin · 07/07/2018 10:33

Love this thread. Well done OP you’re a great role model for women everywhere. Hear hear to knowing your own value and not being afraid to ask for it. Am glad it all worked out for you. 👍

frasier · 07/07/2018 10:36

And on the subject of professionalism, I find time and time again in my field that people are people and a penis/uterus makes no difference to how you conduct yourself in a business environment

The bitchiest emails I have ever had to read (clearing computer when I had sacked someone ) were from a man; the sulkiest employee I ever had was a woman; the three most professional people I have ever worked with were two women and a man; the professor who got asked to leave my uni (for unfair marking) was a man; the two nastiest people I have worked with were women; the most immature person I have worked with, who owned the company, was a man.

It makes no difference.

MintyChops · 07/07/2018 10:49

Well done Janet, you have done brilliantly and I’m so glad you got the 3 months in writing but even happier you are going to take a month off between jobs. What are you going to do ?

PineappleLava · 07/07/2018 11:10

Way to go Janet - great result. Enjoy your 4 weeks off and good luck in your new job!

Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 11:11

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my month off yet, I’m wondering whether DH can get some time off too and we can go somewhere but if not, I might take myself off on an adventure without him Smile

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 07/07/2018 11:36

good for you op

and in america yo9u'd be praised for youc onfidence not put down what is it with tis country sometimes-dont brag be quiet its rude to say how well youre doing

bollocks you shout it out!

sounds like it wa smore the MD who has a problem rather than anyone else hope she treats you with respect and not act like a child about it

ChristianGreysAnatomy · 07/07/2018 12:06

Well done op. I think I’ll take this opportunity to say I am also good at my job. I am not much good at lots of other things - I can’t bake or ski or code or reverse park or apply eye liner properly or dive - but I’m damn good at what I do for a living, and I really enjoy it and I’m proud of it. So there.

Original poster
MyNameDefinatelyIsntJanet · 07/07/2018 13:05

Good for you Christian Grin

I’m the same, good at my job but a god awful cook, cleaner and really terrible at DIY Grin

OP posts:
Bramble71 · 07/07/2018 13:08

I really admire you, OP. You know your worth and are not afraid to ask for an appropriate reward. I reckon you'll end up with your own company before long. I'm sure all will go well at your new job and wish you all the best. Reading your thread has been very interesting.

cherrybath · 07/07/2018 13:25

Really pleased to hear about your great result OP. I wonder if your MD/manager is afraid of losing their job now that you're not there pulling in the clients! You clearly don't share the same skillset.