Job offer

enzolondon1

Evening, 

A question if I may regarding a new job offer I have received today so no conditional offer yet. Have verbally accepted, hybrid role, marginally more money for less hours etc. currently 4 months into a 6 month probation period (never been in a job for such a short space of time!). Question is I need to approach current employer about a reference which is standard practice in the nhs. Only thing is once I've asked about a reference they'll know I'm leaving. I only need to give 1 weeks notice and my new employment checks are likely to take 6-8 weeks. Can they ask that I leave once I've asked about a reference considering I am in my probationary period or despite this am I entitled to wait till my conditional offer comes through? which means I may be there for another 6 weeks with them knowing i am leaving....not sure how well it will go down. As I said I am generally in jobs for a while so I don't usually have this query

Cheers for reading 

Own_Worst_Enermy

Yes, a small employer/telesales job asked me not to work the month in their contact knowing I was going to the nhs so I would be 'well ok financially' in their view in 2021 at just shy of 6 months service with them (albeit they did not know it was for a fixed term role in the NHS) hindsight is a great thing but now I think I should/would have offered to work a longer period (didn't know that possible but it is) had I understood how bad, interchangable and prolonged the checks are by NHS to meet their own end plan.

I'm sorry but follow nhs guidance in the offer that you should not hand in your notice until the moment and only then you are clutching a non conditional offer from them.

I regret that anyone who thinks the nhs take one reference is a bit misguided - I  found direct they wanted around 7 employers to reference (despite their application form and this was after only all other checks came back fine) all, so they could push out start time in the end.

I was entry level but I'm sorry the prolonged wait for the nhs, quite infuriated me - so in no mood was I for someone tutting at me on my first day 15 minutes in, which HR had a real hand in prolonging in the first place.

Hope I've read incorrectly and you are not starting with the nhs, but running from.

enzolondon1

Thanks for your message. No I'm going back into the NHS but my point was I'm in my probationary period at my non nhs current employer and I will need to let them know they need to expect a reference request.At that point they will know I am obviously leaving. I only need to give a weeks notice so once they know I am leaving (Subject to satisfactory checks) can they just ask me to leave pr am I entitled to stay until I have my conditional offer? 
Cheers

Sncjw

Sadly they can let you go if have worked there under 2 years unless they try to let you go due a protected characteristic. 

Also be aware it can take longer than 6 weeks to get a start date. My husband waited 6 months for a job medical role due to his DBs taking a while even though he has no convictions. 

400ixl

Inside of the first 2 years of employment they can just give you whatever notice period is in your contract without needing a reason. How much notice do they have to give you?

Brie

Is there a way to request references on line without actually talking to anyone about the job offer?  I could do this with my last employer which saved them a lot of faff when people planned on leaving or needed something for a mortgage application.  Failing that talk to HR rather than your line manager initially.

Depending on the business and your manager they might be quite happy for you to stay to cover for holidays, while someone is being recruited etc.  

enzolondon1

No, it's NHS and I am afraid they will need a reference from my current employer and as the business is a small medical company there is no HR. In this instance I need to be up front. My contract states 1 week notice so if I let them know I am intending to take this job offer and need a reference they can simply just ask me to go? They're not obliged to allow me to stay until my employment checks are done? I've never been in this situation before as I've always been with my employers for a while so whilst previous employers have been expected to do a reference (it's nhs and you always need to let your current manager know unfortunately!) it's been expected that I will stay until I have a unconditional offer. This time it is a lot different! 

400ixl

You keep talking about the minimum notice period you have to give them, thats not really relevant. How much notice do they have to give you or is that 1 week as well?

There is no obligation on them to allow you to stay in their employee until your checks are done, they can give you their minimum notice whenever they like as you have under 2 years employment with them.

Saying that, if they need to get the work done and would need to recruit and train someone to to replace you then they may well be willing to negotiate,

74jax

enzolondon1 said:

Thanks for your message. No I'm going back into the NHS but my point was I'm in my probationary period at my non nhs current employer and I will need to let them know they need to expect a reference request.At that point they will know I am obviously leaving. I only need to give a weeks notice so once they know I am leaving (Subject to satisfactory checks) can they just ask me to leave pr am I entitled to stay until I have my conditional offer? 
Cheers

OWE tends to go off course with replies so never really gets to answer the question, it's not just your post. 

As stated with under 2 years service, as long as its not discrimination, you can be let go without reason. It may well be that a reference request triggers this, sadly until it happens you won't know. They will however have to replace you so may want you to stay around for longer than a week?

Do you know if the reference comes early on in the checks, or a little later? Do you already have a DBS registered? If you are going back to NHS is unlikely they will come across anything that will hold up your start date.  I would disregard OWE's comments about checks, from posts they job hop and so I'm not surprised NHS wanted 7 references, however for the average worker this wouldn't be the case. 
I hope it all works out, but be prepared. 

enzolondon1

Yes, this is what I am trying to do is to be prepared. My current employer can also give one weeks notice so you're right it may well be that when the request for a reference comes their way (obviously I will speak to them first about this) they will give me a weeks notice and I'll be gone sitting waiting for my checks to go through 😅. Not great but can just about manage financially in the interim hopefully but I don't want to turn down this job offer based on the above. 

I would have had a DBS done a few years ago and occupational health clearance should all still be OK. 

I guess the other concern is if my current employer decides not to do a reference which will leave me in a sticky situation...jobless almost! 

74jax

enzolondon1 said:

Yes, this is what I am trying to do is to be prepared. My current employer can also give one weeks notice so you're right it may well be that when the request for a reference comes their way (obviously I will speak to them first about this) they will give me a weeks notice and I'll be gone sitting waiting for my checks to go through 😅. Not great but can just about manage financially in the interim hopefully but I don't want to turn down this job offer based on the above. 

I would have had a DBS done a few years ago and occupational health clearance should all still be OK. 

I guess the other concern is if my current employer decides not to do a reference which will leave me in a sticky situation...jobless almost! 

Can you remember if you registered this online? If so, it will quicken up the DBS process considerably. 
Try not to worry about them not giving a reference, it hasn't happened yet. If it does have a second reference ready to go.