How strict are notice periods?

ichii

Hey everyone

I have been working in a well-known clothing store since the middle of December and my current notice period is 1 week. This will increase to a month after I have worked there for a total of 3 months. I have been looking for another job which offers more hours as I am currently only on around 15 a week, with a maximum of 20 hours, and possibly better pay.

1. How strict are notice periods? If I found another job, would asking my current employer if I could leave in, for example, 2 weeks, mean I would get a bad reference? I wouldn't want to leave my current employer short staffed.

2. Would many potential employers wait a month?

My current contract ends in the middle of May. Shall I just wait until then before looking for another job? My contract has already been extended twice so that is also a possibility.

Thank you for any help!

InsideInsurance

1) Asking for a shorter notice period will never give a bad reference. Asking, being declined but leaving when you wanted anyway is what gets you the bad one

2) I've offered jobs to people with 3 months notice periods before but it all depends on the role, the need and how good the candidate is. A month is fairly standard for a basic role (3 months is the norm for professional or managerial) and most companies are ok at waiting as long as their isnt an absolutely urgent need

claire16c

A month is standard so any new employer would expect that anyway.

You can always try to negotiate a notice period I did in my last job as it was 3 months. I wouldn't bother if it was only 1 though the time will fly.

Reggie_Rebel

You should always be fair on your notice period, for example if your notice period was a month and they got rid of you and told you leave now you'd still expect to be paid for that month.

Realistically though unless you are in a commercial crucial role if you left on the last day of the moth, not owing any time, or be owed any wages it's unlikely it would be taken any further.

It all depends on your personal integrity

ichii

Thank you everyone for your replies.

If I do get an interview in the future I think I'll just be honest with the notice period I need to give. It seems like the best thing to do. If I am successful I'd see if the notice period could be shortened but I wouldn't want to start a new job having lied about when I could start.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

ichii wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your replies.

If I do get an interview in the future I think I'll just be honest with the notice period I need to give. It seems like the best thing to do. If I am successful I'd see if the notice period could be shortened but I wouldn't want to start a new job having lied about when I could start.

Why, were you thinking of lying?

InsideInsurance

ichii wrote: »

If I do get an interview in the future I think I'll just be honest with the notice period I need to give.

The normal reply is something like "My notice period is currently X months but it may be negotiable".

Do you know if others have managed to get shorter notice periods? Generally companies are relatively consistent but it may be dependent on how quickly they can find a replacement

bartelbe

One thing I would be careful about is references. Your current employer is under no obligation to give them and you might need them. Get your reference from them first before burning any bridges. It puts you in a much stronger position.