Long period between Notice and Start Date

MrJamez

Hello,

I’m due to receive my contract anytime soon with new employer, however, the start date isn’t till Jan and I have to give my current employer 4 weeks notice.

How will this work as ideally I don’t want to take a long break in-between? Do I sign the new contract roughly 4 weeks before I start?

Also, when do I tell my current employer that I have accepted the job offer? I have accepted the job offer via e-mail.

Thanks in advance.

Sandtree

How is your relationship with your manager/current employer? Is the 4 weeks reciprocal? How long have you been working for your current employer?

The safest route is to hand your notice in 4 weeks and a day before your start date with your new employer (assuming its 4 weeks to both sides or you've been there more than 2 years). If you have a good relationship with them and no fears of them wanting you out sooner (especially if you've been with them less than 2 years) then you could inform them beforehand to give them more time to find your replacement etc however ultimately that is their problem and something they should have considered when deciding how long to set your notice period at.

I personally don't care about signing contracts, legally there is little requirement to, no real reason not to sign it today if you are going with it but equally no reason not to wait if you've better things to do with your time. You've already accepted the offer by email and so the contract is formed anyway.

TELLIT01

If you only have to give your current employer 4 weeks notice, you hand it in 4 weeks before the date you need to leave them.

KatrinaWaves

If the start date is Jan it doesn’t matter when you sign it, it’ll start in Jan.

If you don’t want a break, give your employer notice four weeks before the start date in Jan.

unless I’m missing something? 

JReacher1

Sign the contract when you receive it. 

You give notice four weeks and a day before the new start date. You don’t need to tell your employer until then as it’s nothing to do with them. 

MrJamez

Apologies, another factor I forgot to mention..

I’ve worked for my current employer for about 2 and a half years now, however, I have recently gone from a permanent position to an apprenticeship within the company to expand my knowledge etc and my studying towards the qualification begins at the beginning of next month so in a bit of an awkward position! 

k12479

Companies normally want a contract signed pretty quick, typically within a week or two. They are unlikely to wait 10 weeks or so for it.

MrJamez said:

...my studying towards the qualification begins at the beginning of next month so in a bit of an awkward position! 

Check the conditions of doing this qualification, if you leave during or for a certain time after you may have to pay back training costs.

AskAsk

Sign the contract now.  Keep quiet and then give your notice 4 weeks before start date.  You will have to ask them to delay referencing until you have given notice, otherwise they will contact your existing employer and give the game away.

Just seen your comment about training.  Then you have to let them know that you will be leaving but you are not giving notice until nearer the time.  They may then not start your training.

Marcon

MrJamez said:

Apologies, another factor I forgot to mention..

I’ve worked for my current employer for about 2 and a half years now, however, I have recently gone from a permanent position to an apprenticeship within the company to expand my knowledge etc and my studying towards the qualification begins at the beginning of next month so in a bit of an awkward position! 

Are you going to transfer your apprenticeship to your new employer in January?

MrJamez

Marcon said:

MrJamez said:

Apologies, another factor I forgot to mention..

I’ve worked for my current employer for about 2 and a half years now, however, I have recently gone from a permanent position to an apprenticeship within the company to expand my knowledge etc and my studying towards the qualification begins at the beginning of next month so in a bit of an awkward position! 

Are you going to transfer your apprenticeship to your new employer in January?

Nope!

Savvy_Sue

I'd say you're in a slightly tricky position, you really must read the training conditions, especially if you're being asked to sign to agree to them (or have already done so!) 

The ideal might be to find a way to remain on your present contract and not start the apprenticeship. Could you say you've had second thoughts (which clearly you have!) and ask to defer the apprenticeship for a year? They may well work out what's going on, but it might enable them to find a new apprentice if that's a role they really want to fill.