Unpaid maternity leave, notice period and new job

[ashrosea]

I'm currently 9 months into maternity leave. So I'm now technically no longer being paid for the next 3 months. I've just applied for a new job and got it, my new employer asked me what my notice period was and I was convinced it was 4 weeks so told them this. Had a discussion with my old manager and realised my notice period is actually 8 weeks!

My question is: I'm handing in my notice and won't be going back to work regardless as my notice period is less than the time I have left on maternity. I'm not currently being paid. So am I able to hand in my notice of 8 weeks and start my new job in 4 weeks time? Not sure if it makes a different but both jobs are with the NHS.

Discuss it with your manager, you coming back in 4 weeks for 4 weeks would be a pain, they couldn’t find your cover then would need another new person, a clean break is best for them too.

Can you ask to reduce your notice? As you say, it's not like you'd be going back at all whether it's 4 weeks or 8 weeks, so I can't see it would make any difference to your current employer.

I'm not sure if there would be complications from both roles being NHS (technically same employer? Or different trusts? Does that make a difference?) if you gave 8 weeks notice and started in 4 weeks. If they were 2 separate private companies I think you'd maybe just have 2 jobs for 4 weeks and pay BR tax on the second (new) job for those 4 weeks.