Advice pls - Notice Periods Network Manager

[balticstar]

We are about to advertise for an experienced Network Manager position in the South-East (west of London). Since the last time this topic was raised 3 years ago on Edugeek, a number of pay reviews and conditions have changed.

 

Are we still looking at about 2 months notice period for senior candidates? Are these tied to end of term/end of months or 60 days from handing letter of resignation in?

 

Current plan is for new NM in place by Feb half-term latest

[ChrisH]

The notice period is generally generally dictated by the grade you will be advertising the post at. If you are following the guidelines set out by your LA or who ever does them. If you are asking how long you are likely to wait for a candidate already in education, then that will vary too depending on their current grade. Some Network Managers will not be on a good grade and as such will probably be on 1 months notice, others maybe on 3 months.

[dwhyte85]

I am on a 3 month notice period - it is terribly frustrating as when I apply for jobs people are not interested! I hope if you are enforcing a long notice period on the position that you are open to candidates already in that position... Edited November 1, 2010 by dwhyte85

[elsiegee40]

Three months notice is more normal for senior and key-skill employees.

[phillock]

I am stuck on 3 months notice and unfortuantely it makes any job hunting near impossible - I wouldnt recomend taking a 3mth notice role to anybody unless the pay is very high

[dwhyte85]

I feel your pain!

[tech_guy]

Resurrecting this thread - I'm expected to provide notice of eight weeks. In the present job climate it's certainly a hindrance. Has anyone here ever jumped ship early and not fulfilled their full notice period and what were the ramifications?

[jcollings]

I am on a 3 month notice period and I was at my previous employer too. When I got my current post (which involved relocating) I talked it through with my line manager and he agree to half the notice period. Whenever I have moved jobs I've found both the company I am leaving and the one I am moving to to be flexible.

[bodminman]

Currently I'm on 1 month.

 

In my previous job I was on 3 months which was a right pain in the ass. I was relocating from Manchester to Suffolk and got 2 job offers but they couldn't wait the 3 months!

 

Luckily my employer could feel my pain (the wife and kid were in Suffolk for several months and I was stuck in Mcr) and agreed to cut the notice period in 1/2.

[GrumbleDook]

I am on 2 months here, but was on 3 months at my last place ... in line with the rest of SLT. Where possible the notice period should also fit in with the equivalent roles in other areas ... if you want the NM / IT Manager to be a head of Department and respected as such then if you are fighting for teh same pay and recognition as the equivalent teacher ... then you take on their notice period too.

 

I have always, where possible, also had included that I can leave early by mutual agreement, that I can leave if I have to deal with a death or serious health issues of immediate family and that I can leave early if I am the recipient of significant financial income (eg win the lottery, get paid £100k as a joining fee for Tranmere Rovers, etc).

[Butuz]

1 month here, I guess I have no key skills and am not senior

 

Butuz

[AyatollahPies]

Are there any legal issues if you tell them to stuff their notice period?

[nicholab]

Depends on contract I have on that does not increase holiday or notices period no matter how long I am here for.

[kylewilliamson]

Are there any legal issues if you tell them to stuff their notice period?

 

Damages for breaching notice periods

[bodminman]

Damages for breaching notice periods

 

Plus the goodwill/trust is gone. You never know when you may cross paths with people again!

[synaesthesia]

A little communication goes a long way - at least if you're still on good terms with the employer you're leaving, an informal chat will go a long way. Notice period may be 3 months but if this is not practicable, what can you do to make it better for your current employer? Maybe giving them notice of an "intention to leave" is a little direct (I must admit, I did this in October for the old company - but not out of love for that bunch of corrupt idiots, but for the hard working people who it actually would have affected) but it means they can start advertising or at least getting an idea of the market. Making sure everything is documented, and being able to show your employer that if you were to walk out the door right now/get hit by a bus, the next IT manager off the street could pick up where he left off with no real difficulty.

There's obviously a lot more to it for individual cases but there's usually going to be a good reason to move jobs in the first place, and likewise a good reason for needing to shorten your notice period. Most employers are only human too, and frankly the link above from PersonnelToday makes me want to punch someone. There's no need to describe an employee as "errant" or to assume that the wish to cut notice period short is done in order to cause annoyance to the employer.

[JWaite]

I was on the receiving end of a short notice departure.

The guy I took over from had a 1 month notice he gave at the end of january 2005. Advert went out first week in febuary, my interview was on the 15th. Then he went to china with the school on the 16th for 2 weeks as a prebooked holiday that took him upto leaving date.

 

I started on the 1st of march with no passwords, no documentation and no handover and those first few months where absolute hell. His name is absolute mud around these parts and he lost alot of work friends over the way he left.

 

You'd think they'd learn, but I still only have to give 1 months notice if i leave

[KWestos]

I'm going through this right now! My notice period is 3 months. I handed in my notice over two weeks ago and in the resignation stated that I would like to go after 2 months if amicably agreed. I have still yet to receive an formal acceptance of the resignation and they will not discuss the 'leaving early'. They say they want to receive a letter from my new employer seeking their preferred start date so they can talk it over with the governors - FFS!!!!! I had received the formal offer in the first week of the Easter holidays, and so sat on it for two weeks as the head and line manager would not read them until the first day back, so I lost 2 weeks there. My new employer was hassling me for a start date and were unhappy at the school dragging their heels. My new employer gave me an ultimatum on Tuesday to provide them with a date, so I did (without speaking to my line managers) as I was getting nowhere. I gave them till the end of June, which is 9 weeks working notice not including the missed 2 weeks of Easter, totalling 11 weeks. I have since emailed my manager and head stating this and again, have not responded to my correspondence!!! So all I will do is just leave on the said date (early) and they can stick it!!!!!!!!! I have followed procedure, they have not!!!!!

 

I have consulted a solicitor and they said all they can do is file for costs incurred whilst getting a replacement to cover the period you failed to work and not give you a reference, that's it!

 

So my advice to anyone, give them 'some' reasonable notice and go for it. They can't expect you to work for 3 months as your head and heart will not be in it. It all boils down to their attitudes unfortunately and if they are GOOD managers with people skills. Sadly, mine have neither!

[NikChillin]

As far as I am aware, if you give them a letter of resignation then you ceave after the notice period from the date of that letter, you do not require acceptance from management. Would they require it from you?

[maniac]

I'm going through this right now! My notice period is 3 months. I handed in my notice over two weeks ago and in the resignation stated that I would like to go after 2 months if amicably agreed. I have still yet to receive an formal acceptance of the resignation and they will not discuss the 'leaving early'. They say they want to receive a letter from my new employer seeking their preferred start date so they can talk it over with the governors - FFS!!!!! I had received the formal offer in the first week of the Easter holidays, and so sat on it for two weeks as the head and line manager would not read them until the first day back, so I lost 2 weeks there. My new employer was hassling me for a start date and were unhappy at the school dragging their heels. My new employer gave me an ultimatum on Tuesday to provide them with a date, so I did (without speaking to my line managers) as I was getting nowhere. I gave them till the end of June, which is 9 weeks working notice not including the missed 2 weeks of Easter, totalling 11 weeks. I have since emailed my manager and head stating this and again, have not responded to my correspondence!!! So all I will do is just leave on the said date (early) and they can stick it!!!!!!!!! I have followed procedure, they have not!!!!!

 

You could have had those 2 weeks - the fact they won't have read the letter until 2 weeks later is irrelevant as long as you sent it in the mail so there is a post mark on the envelope to date the letter with, you notice period starts from that date. You don't need any 'acceptance' of a notice to leave your employement if you give the proper notice period - state in the letter the last date you will be working with your current employer so there is no arguement. Employers are able to be flexible with notice periods, but stating that they want a letter from your new employer before entering into negotiations with you is taking things a bit far - your new job is none of their business, and negotiations should be with you and the school over this, your new employer should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

Mike.