Resigning whilst on furlough

[TheJuniperTree]

Hi everyone

I am currently on furlough until the end of September. For context, I hate my job (more due to bad management rather than the job itself). I have been there for over 2 years.

I have interviewed for a new role at another company and am waiting to hear if I have been successful. I really hope so as the new company and role seem great and a much better fit for me.

If I am offered the new job I am required to give 3 months notice to my current employer.

My question is this; if I get offered the new job should I ask for a reduced notice period, to two months, which would take me to the end of my furlough period or, would you not ask for a reduced notice period and hope that your current employer put you on "harden leave" for the last four weeks....on full pay.

If I get the new job I really don't want to go back to my current one. So I was thinking that asking for a reduced notice period would be the best idea, but then I wondered whether I could be shooting myself on the foot if they were to put me on gardening leave (no guarantee....I could have to go back and work for a month). I need to check my contract but I would like to be paid my accrued holiday in lieu, if possible.

What would you do?

Thanks all x

I'd ask. Highly doubtful you'd get garden leave unless you're some sort of top sales director, in this climate.

You can't be on furlough and on notice. So either they bring you back to work or put you on gardening leave.

Or going to a competitor? If you have any holiday than can force you to take that instead

@Grobagsforever

You can't be on furlough and on notice. So either they bring you back to work or put you on gardening leave.

Where on earth did you hear that? Of course you can. Perfectly fine for an employer to keep staff who are serving notice on furlough.

I would stay on furlough until the very very end.
Secure the job and start ASAP keeping the furlough running at the same time. At the end you could always say that as they had no work for x months that you found an alternative job that could provide you work and you understand it’s a difficult time for struggling companies so can leave straight away.

You would need permission from your current company, to take on the new job if you plan to be on furlough at the same time, as you are still employed by them. It could be seen as breach of contract.

Oh gosh, no, I wouldn't start the new job whilst on furlough from my current employer.....that would be a breach of my contract for sure.

It's just a question of whether or not I should ask for a reduced notice period (by 1 month) so I finish at the end of September coinciding with the end of furlough. But am I doing myself out of a months salary potentially (which they may pay me in lieu of notice).

But in your OP you were talking about garden leave, not PILON? Surely starting your new job on garden leave would be just as much of a breach of contract as doing it on furlough?

Ask to finish in time to start the new job at the time you want to start it. Keep it simple.

Get the offer from the new employer and go from there. Just don’t promise anything you can’t deliver.

Garden leave is usually so you can't poach clients or take industry secrets. As you haven't been in work since at least early June I doubt they will have those concerns so I doubt they would pay you to be off for another month, they would probably just give you busy work. If you have another job to go to I would just set your sights on that and count yourself lucky.

But you won't be 'doing yourself out of a months salary' you would have to work for that extra month, the three month notice period is for their benefit not yours. They are not going to pay you for an extra month off furlough for you to sit at home, why would they? If you get the job then just speak to your boss. They might prefer you to leave asap as it would help them with cash flow.

I’m not sure why you wouldn’t ask, given you’re on furlough, if you can leave with immediate effect - notice period is to give your current employer time to recruit and train a replacement - as you are furloughed and will be for next two months, I can’t see what benefit it would be to the business to keep you on for your notice period would be so surely they would be happy to let you leave and crack on with your new job straight away? Maybe a week or so if handover required?