Giving notice when the office is closed?

Fionabell

I've got a new job and have to do corporate induction on the 25th January 2016 which lasts for 3 days.

My present employer can be slightly 'nuts' and I don't know which way handing my notice in will go. Could be he sends me straight on garden leave as I deal with a lot of confidential information and I know I will be seen as a 'traitor' for leaving - or he could make me work my full 4 weeks notice.

Our office closes from 21st December right through till 4th January. So technically to give 4 weeks notice I'd have to resign when the office is closed.

I'm really not too sure about what to do - if I hand notice in before the office closes he might make that date the date of my notice so my official leaving date would be 15th January - so I'll be short on a weeks wages.

I am under the doctor for work related stress but am just about managing to go in till I leave - but was wondering if I'd be better off getting a sick note then handing in notice on 4th January but having a sick line??? I know this is not really very ethical but the treatment of staff where I work is really really bad and we're all walking on eggshells.

I just don't think if I emailed my notice it looks professional - and my boss might say he never got it and I'd have to start notice from 4th January which would mean I'd not be available to do induction.

Really appreciate any advice.

Spidernick

Hand your notice in, but stipulate it the letter that you want your contract to end on 24th January (or whatever date you need) and that you are giving at least the minimum four weeks' notice under the terms of your contract.

There is no rule about having to give exactly the required notice period and some employers might even appreciate being given more time to find a replacement. You certainly don't need to do anything underhand, such as you are suggesting.

Fionabell

Someone did give more notice - 6 weeks - and the boss made them leave after 4 weeks.

agrinnall

Fionabell wrote: »

Someone did give more notice - 6 weeks - and the boss made them leave after 4 weeks.

They can probably do that, but only by paying the additional 2 weeks. If it's not paid then it's an illegal deduction from wages and you can sue to recover the unpaid amount.

sangie595

Fionabell wrote: »

So technically to give 4 weeks notice I'd have to resign when the office is closed.
.

And you can't actually do that either. Notice applies from the day after it is received. If you hand in your notice to an office that you know is unstaffed, then it wouldn't start until 5th January. So technically if you left before that notice runs out, then the employer could make things difficult for you.

You will need to hand it in earlier than the office closure, and then deal with it if the employer refuses to pay.

burnoutbabe

agrinnall wrote: »

They can probably do that, but only by paying the additional 2 weeks. If it's not paid then it's an illegal deduction from wages and you can sue to recover the unpaid amount.

surely, if the boss says actually its 4 weeks notice, its based on them (the employer) giving notice, and if the contract says they can give 4 weeks notice, that is fine to do so. The fact that the employee is resigning and going elsewhere seems a perfectly valid reason to give notice to them to end the contract.

theoretica

What does your contract say about handing in notice? Some say that it is deemed recieved when it is delivered to the office with no mention of the office being open.

sangie595

burnoutbabe wrote: »

surely, if the boss says actually its 4 weeks notice, its based on them (the employer) giving notice, and if the contract says they can give 4 weeks notice, that is fine to do so. The fact that the employee is resigning and going elsewhere seems a perfectly valid reason to give notice to them to end the contract.

Not if they have more than two years service, it isn't. It's actually called unfair dismissal. You cannot sack someone fairly for the reason that they resigned!

Nicki

Why not write a letter and send it by post and email to the employer to arrive exactly 4 weeks and a day before the start of your induction? That would seem the best way of ensuring it comes to the right person's attention. Get a statement of posting from the Post Office and put a read request on your email so you can prove the date notice was given should you need to.

[Deleted User]

I remember the only time I genuinely was in the position of leaving my notice letter on someone's desk when they were out of office I sure enough received a call back about it promptly even outside of my working hours... Guess you can never be sure when someone might just check their desk out of hours.. Oh yes

I imagine and came to regret that I should have phoned before leaving letter, a grudge was held although my decision about working notice etc and as a result I departed without ever being spoken to again, so it all really depends how much the employer really likes receiving a letter first imho :cool:

If you think an employer is going to let you go early (or you know it of old..) then you time your resignation. Simply why make the unpleasantness last out.

Phones and other means of contact don't cut off simply because it's the festive season but of course, only you know your management's preferred communication style and feelings. Hope it goes the way you want, perhaps there is nothing to fear.

theoretica

How long have you worked there? If more than two years and they can't dismiss you immediately on whim I wonder if an option would be to give a heads up before the closure.

Boss, could you advise me how and when I should hand my notice in if I wanted my last day to be...