Notice period

acsrjsk

I work for a big employer and I have handed my notice 3 months. I have 2 months leave and only have 2 weeks of turning upto work. I start a new job the after that.

My question being if I went off sick for the next two weeks sick - and not handed over anything (reality is I dont have anything to handover) - what's the worst can happen?

I am not after their reference or want anything to do with them. Numerous problem at work and leaving due to a highly toxic environment.

elsien

So you’re not sick, you just don’t want to go into work? Will you be telling porkies to your GP as well to get a sick note? 

If you’re meant to be on leave but still starting a new job, doesn’t that mean that you’re effectively working for both at the same time? You’re not going to have a p45 for your new employer till the end of the 3 months notice period. 

acsrjsk

Thank you Elsien.

It sounds wrong - the answer to your paragraph is yes - I will get a sick note although I wouldn't say I am not entirely feeling well. But in summary I don't want to go to work. 

The second paragraph isn't a problem.

My question can my employer legally do anything to sack me or anything else I should watch out with my plan? 
I worked so hard for several years for them and its come to this purely because of a bad fallout with a few people and things went very wrong. 

elsien

If they didn’t believe you were sick and wanted to be awkward, they could cancel your leave and tell you to come in for the rest of the 3 months. 

acsrjsk

Thank you - my leave year finishes end of this year. The company hr guidelines indicate any outstanding leave had to be taken during notice period. Payment of leave not taken is only made in "exceptional circumstances" whatever that means.

Besides they were never in favour of me carrying over my annual and overall all leave had to be taken before the year ends. 

Even with this situation - can they be difficult?

acsrjsk

Also I was off sick a week ago for about three weeks ago - that was a genuine sickness for the first time in 9 years! I had a back problem and I did with doctors note too (truly I had a back problem!). I will simply claim my back problem continued...

74jax

acsrjsk said:

Thank you - my leave year finishes end of this year. The company hr guidelines indicate any outstanding leave had to be taken during notice period. Payment of leave not taken is only made in "exceptional circumstances" whatever that means.

Besides they were never in favour of me carrying over my annual and overall all leave had to be taken before the year ends. 

Even with this situation - can they be difficult?

It means an unusual situation.

I would think if you have 3 months notice, and only work 2 weeks, that's an exceptional circumstance. 

Jillanddy

To be honest,  you are not sick,  and you have only two weeks to work.  Suck it up. You have no idea when or how going off sick might come back to bite you,  but the truth is that you have no good reason to not work those two weeks. Everything else is an excuse. The "numerous problems at work" and "toxic environment" weren't bad enough that you would leave without a job to go to,  so you'll survive two more weeks. 

Undervalued

acsrjsk said:

Thank you - my leave year finishes end of this year. The company hr guidelines indicate any outstanding leave had to be taken during notice period. Payment of leave not taken is only made in "exceptional circumstances" whatever that means.

Besides they were never in favour of me carrying over my annual and overall all leave had to be taken before the year ends. 

Even with this situation - can they be difficult?

Yes but the law says an employer can dictate when an employee can take their leave. The can also cancel leave that has been "booked" just by giving fairly minimal notice.

So yes, if they want to be difficult there are perfectly lawful ways of doing so.

I am not clear if you are intending to start you new job before the end of you three months notice period? If so your current employer could choose to be very difficult about that if they wanted to. Under most circumstances they probably wouldn't be bothered but if they the get the impression you are faking sickness, certificate or not, some employers might choose to make an issue of it.

Finally, almost all company sick pay schemes are discretionary. So it may be you will only get SSP for the "sick" leave (c. £100 a week" and none at all for the first three days.

acsrjsk

Thanks all. 

Yeap I start my new job in 3 weeks - so immediately after I finish where I am during my annual leave notice period.

They dont know that and dont even know who I am going to be working for. My new job is with my supplier! Who I am in regular contact with including meetings and so on.

Bit risky incase the suppliers find out I am slacking... I will go to work and not be sick!

My problem now everyone seems to think I have done a lot of work - in reality I really haven't!  My role is technical and acted as a manager in delivering a big work recently . The real managers haven't got a clue what needs to happen and lack the technical skills or anything else- exactly what do I say during handover? Survival tips?

elsien

Can anyone else see this all ending in tears?