New job dictating start date - is this usual?

[firebrand123]

So I finally made a decision between the two offers I had, resigned from my current role and agreed my leave date, then emailed the accepted role to tell them my last day as they asked me to do. They then replied saying the next induction date is 9 days later so is that ok for my start date. Ummm... no.. I can't go for over a week without pay! So now they're trying to get me to bring my leave date forward so I can start on the day of the induction before. Inductions are run every 2 weeks.

Every job I've ever had (and I've had quite a few), I've started and then attended the next available induction whenever that is. Is it common practice to tell new starters they can only start on one of their fortnightly induction days?

It's really bugging me that I'm only finding this out now after I've resigned, why didn't they make this clear to me sooner. Note that I'm taking on a fairly senior non-lawyer role in a law firm.

I think this on you for terminating your current contract before you’ve agreed a start date at your new job. It’s usually done the other way around.

They specifically asked me to resign and then tell them my leaving date, I have an email with that exact wording. Otherwise yes, I'd take it as on me.

Agreed. They want you to go on the induction as that is their process. I'd start for the earlier induction myself.

I agree with PP. Yes, they can dictate your start date. Of course they can. You should have clarified before handing in your notice.

You could speak to your current employer and see if it would be valuable for them for you to stay another week, or have you agreed your final day without confirming your start date?

Quite normal for them to say that you can only start on an induction date, particularly when they happen every two weeks. However, will you have any untaken holiday which you will get paid for when you leave? That could bridge the gap.

If you can’t finish earlier could you take a days leave for the induction?

It is completely normal for them to have a date they want you to start, especially if they have set induction days.

Ok, so it seems it's just something I've never experienced in my nearly 30 years of work then! I'll have to find a solution. Sadly I don't have enough unused leave in my current role to bridge the gap.

I do wish they hadn't specifically asked me to resign and tell them my leaving date though. That's the order they asked for. Not to discuss with them before agreeing my final day. as there's actually only a fortnightly date when it's possible to start.

Yeah this is pretty normal. You’ll need to make it align with an induction date, whether that’s taking a day off, or having a break between employers.

It’d be nice if they covered it in their offer letter but it’s not unusual enough that they’d need to; I don’t think.

After my husband was burnt previously, I’d wait for the contract before resigning.

Can you extend the notice period a week? Or reduce it a week and attend an earlier induction?

I work in the HR field and start dates can be very tricky. I'd just take it because you don't want to start off on the wrong foot.

You were both wrong not to discuss a specific start date- they just assumed you would be free to start anytime after your resignation. Also, not to sound unpleasant but most people esp in jobs like that have more than a week of expenses saved to tide them over.

Same I wouldn’t have resigned before having a contract just in case.

But I think they should’ve been a bit clearer about the induction dates, not sure what you can do to fix it but I do think their communication hasn’t been great here.

It's usually pretty easy to work out your final day date (because period of notice is in contract), but yes I'd ask your current employer to negotiate earlier if you can.

And yes it is odd to be in your fifties (I assume) and not be able to have a week's expenses to hand. I'd be more worried about that! I hope all is okay.

Thanks everyone. A few things to respond to.

I have a contract. This doesn't mention start date linked to induction.

I'm mid/late forties, I worked through my first degree. I do have savings but a week's pay is enough to pay for a (short) holiday so I don't want to throw that away just to sit at home waiting to start a new job!

My current employer is likely to let me delay my leave date so I'll do that. Bringing it forward would leave a colleague in the lurch for something we're supposed to be running together and I don't want to do that.

I have always negotiated my start date when accepting a new job - as in I need to give 4 weeks notice so will start on x date then they confirm if that's ok. Sounds a bit unusual but nothing you can do about it really. I wouldn't kick up a fuss or you'll be starting a new job on the wrong foot.

If you don't have enough leave from your old job to cover a week can you cover a few days then ask for the rest to be unpaid leave? Then you would start the new job at the earlier induction so not lose out on pay?

Or if it's just 9 days if you're careful with money surely you can manage that? Have some time to chill between jobs? That's what I'd do I think! Get loads of jobs done around the house that I've been putting off.

I've never heard of that - where I work you can do the induction on any start date as it's usually pretty self-led. Can you extend your notice a week? I had someone extend by a month because their new line manager was going to be on holiday, so a week should be ok? An end date can easily be changed (in my workplace at least!).

Ooh yes I'd do that. I could save about the same amount of money fixing things around the house which would equate to what I'd end up paying the builder/plumber/etc!!

@firebrand123 In my experience its quite usual to discuss and agree on a start date. This usually involved informing the employer the date on which you will have resigned and be available.

That said in my experience when i tell them the date i will be available they have usually offered a start date within a day or 2 of the date i gave them not nearly 2 weeks later. That i would be a little annoyed about tbh, if there was no option to bring it forward so i do understand why you are annoyed.

If your current employer will let you leave a few days later then i would just do that and not rock the boat with the new company.

Thanks @WB205020 , that's exactly my past experience too. It's reassuring to know someone else gets where I'm coming from!

I've now spoken to my line manager and he's happy for me to delay my leave date by a week. Hopefully that should resolve the issue and mean I can accommodate my new employer's preferred way of onboarding.

I think when moving jobs you should always be conscious of pay gaps.
There could be a change between weekly/fortnightly/monthly pay, you may have to work XX weeks in advance before your first pay, there may be a gap like this in-between leaving your old job and starting the new one.
And tbh, most people enjoy having a few days or a week break in-between leaving the old job and starting their new one.

Yes, I would expect that sort of gap, I just don't want to go for a period where those days won't be paid at any point. As I say, I could cover it, but I'd rather have the money to spend. I have had some health issues and other experiences recently that have really driven home how short life is and I'm trying to save as much as possible for some big experiences with my children over the next few years. It would be different if I had something I wanted to do over the week or so break, but I don't right now.

My current employer did this. I’m also a non lawyer in a law firm (maybe the same law firm!). I wanted time off between jobs though and they wanted me to start asap so I didn’t mind the gap, I actually wanted it to be longer.

Ooh, interesting... I wonder if it's a law firm thing, but it would be funny if it's the same one!

Where I work we have new starter induction every 2 weeks.
I am mid forties and every job I have ever had the new employer has set the start date unless it has been an urgent role that needed filling and they asked me how soon could I start.

It’s completely normal. Never resign unless you have a start date and a contract.