Giving notice and what happens to the perks

john1002

Hi there,

New to moneysaving forums so be gentle, I recently gave notice and the company is been really petty to the point they followed me home to collect my laptop, yes you can tell I’m in sales but I am leaving to a totally different field so there would be no competitiveness or problems with confidentiality. They say they are protecting the business, fair enough but this is extreme I feel.

I still have my work phone and car all shown in my offer letter but difficult to see what they can and can’t do in the contract of employment. They want to confine me to the office through my notice period with someone watching what I do and take my phone back, they have not mentioned the car yet but as it is quite expensive I feel that will be going by the end of the week. They expect me to carry on working but without the tools that I need to carry out the job. I have to say I’m feeling very bitter and want to just throw the towel in and not work the next 4 weeks but then feel why should I do that.

Can they withdraw my benefits, i.e. take the phone, I know one argument will be that Im in the office all the time so don’t need one.

Any help, thoughts or comments would be greatly valued good or bad.

Regards

John

hjb123

I think that you ought to get some advice from someone like ACAS or the Citizens Advice Bureau. The acas website is: http://www.acas.org.uk/

I honestly dont know what the situation is with your perks but it does seem pretty petty what they are doing, though on the other hand they must be trying to safeguard information.

Sumostar

Hi

I think you have hit the nail on the head. These are not perks but tools for the job. If you are in the office then you don't need a mobile or car. Membership to a gym or BUPA cover IS a perk, and they should continue until you go.

mountainofdebt

Can you not suggest to them that as they are obviously concerned about you pinching customer details that you are put on garden leave for the remainder of your notice?

flossy_splodge

It's quite simple really. if your contract or job offer letter states that part of the deal are things like a car and a phone then you get to keep them up to the day you leave. If it is written down that these are available to you whilst doing a particular job or role then if they change the role they can demand those things back. Been there and done it! Refused to give the car back (was about to go on a driving hol in UK) and they got it the day I left. One word of caution, keep YOUR CAR KEYS IN YOUR POCKET AND ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES. And I'm not joking. It really can be that bad! Good luck.:T

Astaroth

If it is a formal benefit of your job (ie it is in your contract) then you should retain it whilst you are still under contract.

It does however sound like these are simply tools of the trade and you see them as a perk rather than a formal benefit in which case it is the companies property and they can take it back from you as and when they want. Of cause what they cant do is take your laptop away then send you to a clients site and complain that you didnt send an email whilst you are there.

Obviously garden leave is always preferable to having to work your notice period I dont think it is unreasonable for them to take away items which you could use to incur costs (eg mobile/ corporate credit card etc) or could contain company sensitive data (eg laptop/ blackberry etc). I know my laptop contains the 6 year strategy plan for our insurance division that would be worth a lot of money to our competitors if I were thinking of retiring early.

Lady_E

I am only guessing here , but does it not follow if you are no longer on the road , i.e travelling salesman , surely you will not need the car? I do feel that the mobile should be left with you , as there may be clients who need to contact you , who are not aware of your resignation. In your shoes I would negotiate some gardening leave , or use up any outstanding annual leave . Good luck with your new venture .

gingerdad

Just for my 2ps worth, as some one who works in sales and has finished various jobs.

I have always kept the car till the end of my notice period even when on Gardening leave, they usually have taken laptop of me straight away and sometimes the mobile.

It seems petty to make you come into work if you can't do any. I know when i left my last job they were happy for to to work till the end and contact all the customers to tell them i was leaving and what was going to happen. but it's not all the same.

I would be surprised if they took the car off you if they still expect you to come into work.

Regards

GD

john1002

Thanks everyone for your coments,advice and help. In the end they did take the phone and have even started telling people I am leaving but also telling them alot more than i would have thought they can, i.e. Im leaving because I am been paid alot more money even though I have not given that as a reason. Anyway things seem to be settleing down a little bit now,have kept the car,just waiting for friday to see what I get paid and then hopefully find what my last wage will be and how long I have to work of the remainder of my notice period.

Thanks again heres to the new job and I can put it all behind me, has been quite tense,in fact the worse I have known.

Regards

Lady_E

Good luck and dont let the ba****ds get you down