Resigning from job I just started?

[Basketofkittens]

I’ve been working in an NHS job for two weeks. I’ve never worked for the NHS before. I don’t like it at all for various reasons. Dealing with very difficult patients on the phone, no support, very grumpy and stressed colleagues, the whole place is just chaotic and disorganised.

I have to give a month’s notice. My line manager is off sick with stress. Her manager has just gone off sick. Another colleague walked out today and didn’t come back.

Can I just email HR my notice?

Do you not have a probationary period? Ours is 3 months in which you only need to give one week's notice. Then on being made permanent it's a month.

They only have to give me one month in my probationary period - I have to give a month!

I’m not sure but couldn’t they say you were in breach of contract if you walk? Tbh I would try and secure new job ASAP and walk. Sounds like an untenable environment. Good luck

Sorry I should have said THEY only have to give me one week in my probationary period. I have to give them a month.

I’m just going to resign I think. One month’s notice. I don’t have a job to go to but I am seeing if I can get some health and safety contracting roles as that’s what I used to do.

Currently, a quarter of the staff in my building are off sick!

DH is very supportive and financially I don’t need to work so just need to find a manager who is not off sick whom I can hand my notice into!

OP I wonder if we work at the same place?? I'm in the same boat as you. Don't know what to do regarding notice, I think I'm going to just leave, but let them know that it just hasn't worked out for me.. they can't make me stay.

I do actually like working in the NHS and hope to stay.. I just don't like my current role and hope it doesn't affect future applications.. I'm quite concerned about this.

Notice periods are nonsense they can in theory sue for breach of contract but they stop your pay so that is basically their loss.

If you want to walk just do it.

they can't make me stay.

^^absolutely this, unless you are in the army

Just go, they are unlikely to do anything about it!

I left my job after 1 month there. I emailed my manager and HR my noticed and then went on stress leave.
Was the best thing I ever did

• my notice for my probation was 1 week but that's what I went off for.

I would just email your notice and go on stress leave. If it's that bad, it's not worth another month of it.

I wouldn't go on stress leave if you've not genuinely got stress. It impacts a lot of things in life - applications for mortgages, jobs, life insurance etc.

Legal notice is 1 week. They can say what the frig they like in the contract.

My dd is in the same boat. Started with the NHS a month ago. Training was disorganised , managers don't know what they are doing, workplace is chaotic and cramped and at the end of her shift once she has clocked off she then has to go 2 flights up to hand her headset in as they are short of headsets.

She is very disappointed as had high hopes working for the NHS, especially bearing in mind the hoops she had to jump through to get a low band job.

"Legal notice is 1 week. They can say what the frig they like in the contract."

Doesn't work like that. The legal minimum notice period for employees to give employers is what applies in the absence of contractual provision for more. If an employee accepts a contract stating that they will need to give a month's notice, then that's what they have to give.

Obviously there's probably not a lot the employer can do about it if the OP walks out without giving her contractual notice - they are unlikely to pursue her for breach of contract (although they could, especially if they'd incur financial loss), and presumably she isn't planning on relying on them for a reference.

But the contractual notice applies.

She hasn't been there a month.

And? As I said, the legal minimum provision is what applies if the contract is silent, or in the absence of a contract. OP is clear that she is contractually obliged to give a month’s notice.

I am still trying to find a manager who is not off sick to hand in my written notice to. If I don’t - well HR will get it via email as they are a different site! I don’t intend to give this job as a reference in future or put on my CV.

I’ll see if HR will accept a week of notice. There is very little they could do and a mere band 3 so not worth them taking action against me.

I don’t feel stressed so I won’t go off sick at this stage, just looking forward to having the summer off and not working here!

I'd give a weeks notice is you can't handle staying there another month and don't need a ref. Heck from what you've said I'd walk out now!

If they insist on more notice then just give them a months notice then get signed off sick for a month.

They really can't force you to be there, it's not a gulag, and they are very very unlikely to take any sort of legal action against you for leaving a job at that level.

In the end, I resigned via email to w senior manager as I had enough yesterday! Four weeks to go.

I’m used to having autonomy in my roles and flexible working. Think I’ve learned from this not to apply for any admin jobs as they aren’t going to suit me.

I think getting signed off sick is worse for reference purposes. There is no reason for any employer to provide a reference that says 'op worked here from x date to y date' ultimately if she's only been there a few weeks there is nothing more they can say anyway

I meant not provide

OP said she doesn't need a ref