What do recruiters think of a gap in employment?

[Doidontimmm]

Please help, I’m in a position to leave my current job (of 10 plus years) without another position and then look elsewhere but what will employers think of a gap?

I'm leaving because they have moved location to another town with no public transport from where I am and we had given up our second car as last Sept we were told we could wfh 50/50 which meant we could car share but now they have told me from next week I must go in 75% of the time but no other staff need to do this. Their reasons are unreasonable and since the bosses “friend” started in January they have made me feel pushed out despite me addressing this directly and them saying they are not.

There is no HR, I do HR stuff!

Can I say due to untenable working conditions?

Your OP mixes different issues.

it sounds like your main issue is that you consider your current employer is treating you unfairly. Would focus on that first.

how long have you worked there? How much notice of the location move were you given?

what are their stated reasons for requiring 75% attendance for you specifically?

Have you submitted a formal flexible work request?

Be honest on your cv and state that the company relocated (you don’t need to put about lack of transport).

@Loopytiles I have been there 11 years. We were given 1 days notice of the office change last Sept. I was told on Monday I must come in 75% of time from next week.

I didn’t put in a request but did ask if there is a point and they said no. There is no HR. Only 5 employees including the 2 directors.

They said I need to be in just in case any of the 2 subcontractors want to pop in or either of the directors do to speak about finances or such.

In all these years subcontractors never pop in (even pre covid when we were in an office in my town) and we have successfully been having financial conversations over teams since 2020 & Covid.

It wouldn’t bother me at all if someone has a reason for a gap in employment
employers don’t know your persona circumstances you may have a little nest egg and decided to take some time out to do yoga paint and bake whilst you decided what to do next!

No one cares about a gap

Good to hear gaps aren’t frowned upon, as I plan to take a year out of work using my private pension, then reapplying.

Have you another remote working job lined up?

Are you planning to work your notice?

How has the working relationship been recently with your current employer as you will need a supportive reference.

Gaps aren't frowned on. But I'd expect it explained on your CV / part of the application process.

Not loads of specific detail just enough that it's clear there's a reason why.

In OP's case, before doing anything further, I would set out the situation in writing, making your request & asking for clarification on the changed work arrangements.

If there are only 5 employees, 2 of whom are directors, I don't actually think it's that much of a problem that they expect you to be in 75% of the time. They can argue that this is required for you to fulfil your role fully. It's not like there's a large team all doing the same role, where it could be seen as unfair.

I’ve done it in writing!

I can fulfill my post fully from home, they are expecting me to travel to another town to sit in an office by myself on the off chance someone pops in but can’t explain why they might pop in or what for. I know the job inside out and it can be done fully remote but they want me in 75% for no reason they can fully explain.

Don't resign yet - speak to ACAS, your trade union if you have one or an employment solicitor as soon as possible. You MAY (I emphasise may, it depends on lots of things) have a case for a redundancy payment if you've been there for 2 years - they ceased trading/employing your role at your contracted location which is in law a redundancy situation, they've offered you alternative employment which you accepted on the basis it was largely from home, now the goalposts have changed and the role is not suitable for you and you might therefore be redundant - and if they won't accept this it could potentially be constructive unfair dismissal. The reasonableness or otherwise of their requirement for someone doing that job to be in the office full-time is a bit of a red herring here, it may not make sense to you but to some extent that's their prerogative as business owners, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's fair/allowable to insist you change your contract to a new location. Lots of small companies totally don't understand their legal responsibilities in these cases but that doesn't mean they can act with impunity.

Take some proper legal advice before acting in haste - statutory redundancy payments are not much money and of course if the company drags their heels it may not be worth pursuing but there's a possibility it might buy you some time. It sounds as though you've lost trust in them and don't really want to work there any more but E.g. if they realise they're on dodgy ground they might agree to let you work from home temporarily while they take advice which would be useful to buy you of some time. It's not so much that employers really dislike to see gaps on CVs but it's not ideal and if it takes you a while to find another job (possible given your location constraints) you could be losing income and skills while sat at home...

Gaps are fine as long as you explain it. Shorter gaps are definitely ok.

If you had a gap of 18 years while you bringing up kids, that would be an issue in that you'd be back to an entry level / low skilled jobs. Anything up to a year, with an explanation is fine.

However, 11 years tenure gives you employment rights. Have you spoken to ACAS?

Thank you both so much. I’m sitting here crying my eyes out at how they are now treating me after speaking up.

Im going to call ACAS.

Im actually in a major city & they have moved the office to the back of beyond with no public transport!

You’ve done what in writing?

This is exactly what you should state. The company has relocated.

Gaps are not bad for reasons such as the above. In addition, there is less stigma surrounding gaps as the pandemic caused many more people to have gaps in their employment plus there are a lot of vacancies in general right now.

I put it in writing that I would like them to reconsider having to work the 75% and listed my reasons why but it was a hard no from them.

I have just called Acas and they said I could have a case for redundancy or constructive dismissal and should speak to an employment lawyer before making a move.

I feel better thank you all!

So I ended up resigning as one of the directors became nasty, passive aggressive and excluding me, she has done this to 3 other members of staff and they left.

I said due to their being inflexible re working in the office & the fact isolated working could cause issues for my mental health I no longer felt my position was tenable. I stated I would have been willing to come in at short notice if anyone needed me. They tried to get me to stay but it felt like they were worried I’d not handover (I know more than them, they don’t even know where my contract is). They then accepted it saying they were sorry I was leaving due to health reasons.

I said I was leaving due to unfair working conditions not health but that the conditions could cause health issues.

should I say that in writing? My contract says they should give me 2 months notice of changes. They gave me one week.

I assume I can’t backtrack and ask for 2 months notice (pay)? I’m definitely not staying.

Are you going for constructive dismissal? I think you really need to seek advice from an employment solicitor.

I think so. I’ve reached out to the solicitor that dealt with the other girls case (they won) so hopefully she will come back to me next week.