3 month notice period...can I negotiate a shorter one?

[pinkfongg]

Hi all, I need some HR advice, if I have a 3 month notice period, which is silly because I'm in a junior role but everyone in the company had to sign a 3 month one - do I HAVE to work that?
It's really going to affect me getting a new job. Or I'll have to hand my notice in and then look for something else..

I would wait until you have a new job offer and then negotiate your notice with your current employer. They’ll most likely let you go. It’s so silly to have that length of notice for a junior role as a lot of damage can be done in that time by a checked out employee.

Yes, it's very negotiable.

New employer would understand if they had to wait a bit whilst you extricate yourself

Old employer will normally be happy for you to go as soon as they can cover your work (as they won't want to risk either sabotage or the effects of someone doing the bare minimum)

I agree it's negotiable. I do know one git of a manager who insisted someone stayed the full 12 weeks, but they were not getting new projects and had done most of their handover within the first month, so it was just demotivating. Most people are more reasonable and will negotiate.

Thanks very much all.
I will try and do just that!

Same here. Next time I move on if they’re not willing to reduce the notice it will show in my output! Three months is bonkers, I can’t see how it benefits anyone.

It benefits YOU if you get made redundant

Fair point. I find myself keen on the idea 😁

When I was made redundant, I got a week's notice and 11 weeks PILON. So it was a financial benefit in that way.

Our notice period built up over time - everyone starts at 4 weeks up to 1 year (senior grades I think were 12 weeks from the start,) then you build up a week per year to a max of 12 weeks.i think the assumption is longer service = more knowledge, so more to handover. But in reality, it was usually negotiable.

You are contractually obliged to work your notice period. Whether you are able to negotiate a shorter notice period is an unanswerable question for strangers on an internet forum. It will be purely down to the needs of the business you work in.

But it is possible! Is the answer I needed - thanks though, I was aware I was asking strangers on an Internet forum :-)

I’ve left 2 jobs with 3 month notice periods, giving 4 weeks notice both times.

First one I told them (not asked) I was leaving after 4 weeks. In my resignation letter I laid out how they wouldn’t suffer commercial/detrimental loss with me leaving after 4 weeks. Realistically, they’d need to prove this if taking me to court. They couldn’t, and they didn’t. HR said it was a ‘strong resignation letter’.

Second one I asked nicely, laying out how I could ensure handover would be done effectively. I knew they wouldn’t replace my role, which helped (ie they didn’t have to recruit). They said yes.

So, OP - it absolutely can be done - but it needs to be in the businesses interests as well as yours so when making the request, think of it from their side and ensure you address any objections they’re likely to have.