To be shocked at treatment following resignation?

[Username1233]

For a bit of background info, I’m based within financial services and secured a job last July (subject to me paying for, and passing my necessary exams - to formally start in October). Completed all of this, and quickly realised that this company is perhaps “not for me”.

I was approached via a much more supportive financial institution a few months ago with a great job offer. I have been mulling it over, and on Monday decided to accept. This is where everything went wrong!

I work from an external office on my own, so called my manager (company owner was away with work) on the Monday. Verbally gave my notice (followed up in an email), promised I would do as much as I can throughout August to make the process as easy as possible for everyone. Manager told me to keep this between ourselves, and he will speak with company owner and let me know next steps.

On Tuesday I’m working as normal, when suddenly I’m locked out of everything! Tried to call manager - no response. Tried to call IT - they hung up on me! Then had a call from an employee to tell me to come to the main office straight away to hand back all equipment.

Hand it back (no management to be seen), and told they will pay me for 1 week and that’s it! A few calls on my part to ACAS, I am now being paid my full 4 weeks as given, but on garden leave.

AIBU to be absolutely miffed how this whole situation has panned out? Is this normal for financial services? No goodbyes, no calls from management, no exit meeting, nothing! I am still in utter disbelief at the way this has been handled. I was told by above employee that the company owner is extremely cross with me, and feels I have used them for my own progression.

I know I shouldn’t care, but I do! I wanted to leave on good terms and feel disappointed that the company think this way of me!

Worked in finance for a decade or so and, yes, garden leave and a fairly immediate exit would have been the form BUT it would have been handled kindly and professionally. You’d have had a meeting with manager to explain the process, that the company felt (given you may perhaps be going to a competitor) that paid garden leave starting immediately would be in both your interests and the process of handing back equipment etc would have been walked through at that meeting, which may also have served as an exit interview.

So the way you have been treated is shockingly unprofessional, but not the expectation of an immediate departure.

If this is one of the most embarrassing moments of your life and you have august off at full pay you can afford to take it easy and celebrate your good fortune all round!

I agree. Gardening leave/rapid lock out is common but there should be clear communication on all the practicalities and potentially a dedicated team to deal with.

@Username1233 have you received any of this information yet and have they included any holiday pay due, confirmed when benefits such as health care end?

Its common for the benefits to continue through gardening leave. Sensible companies, like sensible employees aim to stay on good terms - odds are you may meet again in the future.

Gardening leave is normal, for the boss to be so petty and sulky is not. Especially if you paid for your own qualifications. If they wanted you to stay and be an asset to the company they should have treated you better - why wouldn’t they ask you why you want to leave, and consider matching what you’re going to? Just goes to show that you’ve made the right decision. I hope you enjoy the new job, onwards and upwards ☺️

Enjoy your extra paid holiday!
It's standard in some industries to immediately lock you out of any systems where you could cause harm, then escort you off the premises with your personal belongings. You'll know to expect it if this happens again. Hope the new job goes really well.

I'd not give it another thought.
It's pretty common in a lot of industries if you're going to work for a competitor.

As another poster said, I've known people escorted out of the building same day as notice has been handed in.

It's done there to stop you raiding their books for potential customers.

I've seen people escorted off the premises (contract terminated) as soon as they said they were resigning (or if people were fired), not even given time to go back and get personal stuff from the office, someone collected everything and handed it to them outside. A bit brutal, but I guess someone could do a lot of damage in a few weeks of being on their way out. It does depend on the company, for some this is just what happens regardless of circumstances.

They've behaved awfully and, in the long run, done you a favour.

They have more than proved to you that you were right to leave for a company with a much better reputation for how they treat their staff.

My guess is that they've lost a number of staff to this company over the years and are bitter about it.

Don't take it personally, enjoy your free month and good luck in your new role.x.

Years ago I worked in a recruiting office with 2 men and an older lady who was the main manager. I was only on a 12 week contract so didn't know the ins and outs but one day the lady was escorted to her desk, made to empty it and then leave. I felt very uncomfortable- never did find out why, it was before smart phones, social media etc.

This ^

A relation of mine is a hairdresser. They handed in their notice and were placed on gardening leave with immediate effect in case they stole customers. They took the opportunity to redecorate the flat and see friends. Personally and if I could afford it I think I’d go on holiday. Unfortunately gardening leave doesn’t exist in my job.

Username 1233, sounds like they have instead given you PILÓN (payment in lieu of notice) which they are entitled to do terminating your contract early. Plus they must pay you any outstanding leave per your contract. Unless that is you have case for discrimination / whistleblowing - those are the exceptions with less than 2 years service. If they have now (with pressure from ACAS) paid you notice per your contract, enjoy your holiday. Any reference sought from the company must be factual , accurate and fair. If you are concerned in the future that is not the case, you can always submit a SAR (Subject Access Request). As others have said, you did the right thing going to ACAS. They are a great resource.

Check whether it is gardening leave or pay in lieu of notice as I think they are treated differently for tax.
You made the right call about the company not being a good fit! Even if they did follow a straight out the door policy they could have handled it better and taken the time to explain.

Yes it’s very normal in financial industry to put someone on gardening leave for their notice period due to the financial risk

Same as redundancies - no one is ever asked to come into the offer for their consultation period.

It’s the nature of the industry it’s not personal.

I know a few people this has happened to. Literally resign and then are walked out of the building carrying their penholder in a cardboard box. Paid to be at home until end of notice period. Enjoy your weekend extra break OP 🙂

Absolutely standard for the industry. Enjoy your paid holiday!

@eatreadsleeprepeat it is a payment in lieu notice - what do I need to be aware of please?

@Savoury @C8H10N4O2 Sorry both, I had missed your comments! I have been sent a letter via email which states I will be paid my 4 weeks notice, holiday, and will receive my p45 soon.

NO it isn't. The OP handed in her notice first so SHE terminated. The garden leave is for the notice period, yes. But it's not generally the case that the employer tries to swap it round so they terminated. That could have ramifications if the OP's new job offer fell through and she needed to claim benefits, or if they said on a reference that they terminated the OP's employment,

I don't know why employers try to jump in with a termination when the employee already has but it happened to a friend of mine a few years ago - completely different sector - she worked in a gym but she handed in her notice and the boss then tried to sack her. She wrote a stroppy letter and got her notice pay but it was all completely unnecessary.

The garden leave betrays a huge lack of trust but is par for the course in certain sectors.

I think you pay tax on it.

Was this your first resignation since you started your working life? This or a variation of it is very common indeed where you have access to, or have in your head, valuable information and contacts. AS people have said, NDA's or non competition agreements are also common, especially where you are going to a competitor to work. If you told them you had already secured a new job then this would be a trigger to act even faster. Its not personal, its business, bit amazed that you weren't aware.

Something else I’ve been thinking about also - no one at the company has asked me what my new job is! I know this isn’t the case, but for all they know I could be moving in a completely different sector!

I know, shocking, right. How dare an employee think of herself? Terribly suspicious behaviour.

Some employers are disgusting. The garden leave is fine - that is quite normal. What isn't normal is the nasty unprofessional approach and trying to make it as if they terminated and the OP was at fault.

I work for a small financial services business (after years of a large institution), and am surprised how personally the boss takes it when someone moves on. He earns millions a year & and pays min wage, no training, PD, or perks, and the workload & deadline pressure is ridiculous. He seems to take it as a personal affront when staff leave for better opportunities!! Last staff member was marched out the door.

I'd enjoy your time off, OP, instead of having to grind yourself into the ground until you leave.

@dynamiccactus Ah that’s ok, so just as my normal pay check would look?