Notice Periods - HR on leave

Lala2015

Hi everyone!

So I'm very chuffed, I received my new contract of employment in the post this morning.
When I accepted the verbal offer last week (on Friday), I said to the HR lady that my HR manager (it's a very small company, only one person), is on annual leave until next week, so I'll hand in my notice on Monday (I thought this was the day she would be back in the office).
I went home and prepped my resignation letter and dated it Monday 19th October, ready for said date.

I then found out from a colleague (it's quite a close-knit company), that my HR manager has extended her AL and isn't coming back in the office until Tuesday.

So back to now, and I'm reading through my new contract. It states date of employment is Monday 16th November 2015. This would have been my last working day at my current company. HR at the new company (which is a huge company), has clearly taken my date of notice commencement as when I accepted the verbal offer (yesterday).

My question is: Can I submit my written notice with effect from Friday, even though my HR manager has not yet seen it. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to ask her for a meeting on Tuesday morning and give her the letter and explain the circumstances.

I've read through my current contract. Regarding notice, it says:
"such notice shall be deemed to have been received:
if delivered by hand, at the time the notice is left at the address or given to the addressee"

Well, my letter was typed up & popped in an envelope at my address on Friday afternoon!
As our HR member is out of the office, I plan to re-jig the dates in line with then new contract.

Would be very grateful for your thoughts

jobbingmusician

You can't put your life on hold just because HR is on leave. It's your employer's responsibility to provide line management (and an HR service, which doesn't have to be separate.)

Pop your notice on HR's desk (probably stuck into her keyboard so she can't miss it), and as a matter of courtesy give a copy to your line manager, explaining that you realise that HR is on leave, so you didn't want your notice to come as a shock when she returns. And don't let them even TRY to guilt you into trying to amend your dates. It's their problem if they don't have proper cover when HR is on leave, not yours.

Lala2015

jobbingmusician wrote: »

You can't put your life on hold just because HR is on leave. It's your employer's responsibility to provide line management (and an HR service, which doesn't have to be separate.)

Pop your notice on HR's desk (probably stuck into her keyboard so she can't miss it), and as a matter of courtesy give a copy to your line manager, explaining that you realise that HR is on leave, so you didn't want your notice to come as a shock when she returns. And don't let them even TRY to guilt you into trying to amend your dates. It's their problem if they don't have proper cover when HR is on leave, not yours.

Thank you jobbingmusician, that's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't alone in that thought!

There is another HR member at work, but bless him, he's only a week or so into the job.
I did tell him my intention on Friday (as he is HR and ultimately I will be telling the HR manager on Tuesday now), but he said he didn't think he could accept the notice, it would have to be the manager.

My line manager is on AL too! It's basically a family & friend run business, so everyone has gone on holiday together.
Ultimately, they are still a business and my letter is professional and as you said; I cannot just wait for them all to get back to hand in my notice.

I will formally hand it in on Tuesday, but as stated in my letter, this will be with effect from Friday...

CalumHeath

Hand it to the most senior person you have access to - or if post it for their attention using recorded delivery if you're struggling to track someone with authority down. There's no law to say it has to fall into the hands of HR - some companies don't even have an HR department.

Good luck with your new position.

HappyMJ

Lala2015 wrote: »

Thank you jobbingmusician, that's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't alone in that thought!

There is another HR member at work, but bless him, he's only a week or so into the job.
I did tell him my intention on Friday (as he is HR and ultimately I will be telling the HR manager on Tuesday now), but he said he didn't think he could accept the notice, it would have to be the manager.

My line manager is on AL too! It's basically a family & friend run business, so everyone has gone on holiday together.
Ultimately, they are still a business and my letter is professional and as you said; I cannot just wait for them all to get back to hand in my notice.

I will formally hand it in on Tuesday, but as stated in my letter, this will be with effect from Friday...

You really should send it today. Recorded signed for delivery will get there on Monday.

Lala2015

HappyMJ wrote: »

You really should send it today. Recorded signed for delivery will get there on Monday.

HappyMJ, would it not work the same if I replace the letter that I've left for the HR manager in an envelope at work (that I've printed and signed), dated Monday for one I am printing tomorrow which will be dated Friday (16th?)
She isn't going to be in the office until Tuesday now anyway?

clairec79

I reckon you'd get away with it - especially as you verbally told HR on the Friday anyway

LittleVoice

You haven't said how much notice is required by your current employer.


If you want to start work with the new one on Monday 16 November, because notice runs from the day after it is delivered, your notice should have been delivered to your current employer on or before -
15 October - if one month's notice
18 October - if four weeks


Is your job offer subject to "receipt of satisfactory references"?

agrinnall

I wouldn't give my notice to HR at all, I'd give it to my line manager and leave them to deal with the admin.

Lala2015

LittleVoice wrote: »

You haven't said how much notice is required by your current employer.


If you want to start work with the new one on Monday 16 November, because notice runs from the day after it is delivered, your notice should have been delivered to your current employer on or before -
15 October - if one month's notice
18 October - if four weeks


Is your job offer subject to "receipt of satisfactory references"?

My notice period is 4 weeks and the offer is unconditional.

My predicament is: who do you hand in your notice to if the only people in the office are two accountants and a HR advisor who has been there two weeks because everyone else is on the same holiday? :eek:

Lala2015

blondebubbles wrote: »

Someone must be "in charge"

People are in charge... and contactable via e-mail.
However my contract states "A notice required to be given under this agreement shall not be validly given if sent by e-mail"

I might add, this company is small; very small. Hence this unusual predicament!