My current employer requires 12 weeks notice. I went for an interview and was asked this and did say but pretty sure it would be negotiable to 4-6 weeks. I was lucky to be offered the job and they wanted me to start in 2 weeks. I explained this wouldn’t be possible and gave them a possible start date in 5 weeks time. I spoke to my immediate manager and he said 5 weeks shouldn’t be an issue so I told the new job. I was then waiting for confirmation of that date before handing in my notice.
I have now had an email from my HR department saying as someone handed in their notice over the weekend and would leave them extremely short staffed if I left in 5 weeks so have now said I have to do the expected 12 weeks. I know I could just go after 5 weeks but I really don’t want to leave under a dark cloud and really don’t want the next 5 weeks to be hard for me.
what do I do? ask the new job if I could start in 12 weeks or just say I cannot take the job.