Off sick / new job offer

raukousshaun

Hi All,

I would be very grateful for any advice anyone can give me as it's not something I've had to deal with before and I need to make some speedy decisions.

A month ago I had an accident and broke my arm, it was healing well or so I thought until I went for a follow up xray this week, the docs weren't satisfied and now this means an operation I'm back next week to speak to my consultant. I'm told an operation usually happens within 24 hours of that.

In the mean time I have a fit note which signs me off from work for 2 more weeks.

Before my accident I went for a job and while I've been off I've been successful, I told them about my arm and they were fine about it however the op has now come to light this week. I have a start date in 4 weeks, I have not resigned from my current job just yet. I have until Monday.

However I'm not due to see my consultant again to discuss the operation until Wednesday, so I am hoping the HR for the new employer will be nice enough to put my start date back until I've spoken to him.

Options are:

1. Speak to my consultant on Wednesday, confirm the date of the operation same week I hope!, sign me off work for another couple of weeks, but also at the same time agree to provide me with a fit note to return to work in advance a couple of weeks later does this ever happen?

This is then something I can give to my new employer to assure them I will be able to start on a certain date. This would push my start date out by 1 week if I can get this next week.

2. My consultant signs me off for the op + some recovery time but is not prepared to write me up a fit note to return to work in advance, and i will need to wait another month before I get it, this will push my start date out by 1 month


Obviously I dont have a crystal ball on how things will be after the operation but the professionals are telling me that in 2/3 weeks I should be up and about and due to the nature of the job I do it would be fine to go back to work (start a new job).

At the same time I don't want to scare my new employer off but would like to give them some reassurance that the op is the quick fix and I'll still beable to do the job just with a sling to support my arm for awhile. I can still use my forearm, move my wrist and fingers on that arm which by the way is my left arm (I am right handed)

My big concern is, I resign, possibly lose out on 4 weeks sick pay I need to dig out by contract, I have the op, provide the new employer with a return to work fit note but they stall me and i'm left with no income/job. Can occupational health stop me from joining even with a fit note returning me to work and they pull the job offer?

Obviously my health comes first but if I can make this work I would like to take the job, but I dont want to put myself in a vulnerable position and lose out in every way.

I think the next step initially is asking the new employer to let me speak to my consultant on Wednesday first before anything else and not resign from my current job just yet.

OR its too much uncertainty and I decline the job offer and play it safe

Any advice appreciated

Thanks!

lisyloo

Speak to the new HR and see if they can put everything on hold for a few weeks.
Hopefully they can and will appreciate this is least risk for them.
It really is very unlikely that their world will fall apart if you can't start for 2-3 weeks.

General_Grant

raukousshaun wrote: »

Hi All,
I have a start date in 4 weeks, I have not resigned from my current job just yet. I have until Monday.

How much notice would you have to give to your current employer? If it is 4 weeks then if you did resign on Monday your last day of employment would be Monday, 29 June.

They don't have to allow you to take holiday during your notice period. Or do you think your sick "fit" note will be renewed again and therefore any end date is technical only?

raukousshaun

General_Grant wrote: »

How much notice would you have to give to your current employer? If it is 4 weeks then if you did resign on Monday your last day of employment would be Monday, 29 June.

They don't have to allow you to take holiday during your notice period. Or do you think your sick "fit" note will be renewed again and therefore any end date is technical only?

Hi,

My notice period is 4 weeks yes, my start date is suppose to be Monday 29th June.

With the operation and a few weeks recovery time I'm expecting another fit note to sign me off for a further 4 weeks from next week yes.

General_Grant

raukousshaun wrote: »

Hi,

My notice period is 4 weeks yes, my start date is suppose to be Monday 29th June.

With the operation and a few weeks recovery time I'm expecting another fit note to sign me off for a further 4 weeks from next week yes.

So technically you would need to deliver your resignation no later than Sunday (so in reality probably today) in order not to be an employee of your current employer on 29 June. However, given your sickness absence it probably doesn't make any difference.