Finishing up

youcrazyjesus!

My contract says I must give at least 4 weeks notice. I can't work 4 weeks notice for a few different reasons. I've given 2 weeks notice. I don't want to leave the company on bad terms by simply telling them I'm not working the other 2 weeks. They are right now insisting that they want me to work my notice. I've been a good worker for them and they've got value out of me, from their own admission. I'm only in the company 11 months and it's not as if nobody else can do my work, we have a reasonably big team to take up the slack.

What recourse do they have if I refuse to work my notice? Any other advice?


Thanks.

Dudess

This is just speculation but I presume they can't force you to stay? What can they actually do to stop you from even ringing them in the morning and saying you're not coming back?
I understand though that you'd like to leave under good circumstances - especially when it comes to references in the future. What about sending an email to the relevant parties detailing the reasons why you have to leave in two weeks' time? Is it a condition of your contract that you give four weeks?

Did you secure the job through an agency? If so, what about sending a detailed job spec to the person in the agency who placed you? Then they can set the ball rolling immediately.

nesf

youcrazyjesus! wrote: »

I can't work 4 weeks notice for a few different reasons.

Are any of them good reasons? Are any of them reasons for "burning a bridge" behind you? Is it possible your present manager might meet you again down the line etc.

If it's a job in a field that you're permanently leaving or a field so big that it's unlikely to cause problems for you, you could do it but if you're staying in the field and it's small or close knit like a lot of industries in Ireland are, I'd need a very good reason not to work out the notice if I was in that situation personally. It's only an extra 2 weeks.

Eoin

It could be a breach of contract, but whether they will pursue it is a different matter.

I think it's poor form not to work your notice period, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

youcrazyjesus!

It's not that I don't think it's necessary or don't think it's bad form not to work out your notice but I have genuine reasons for needing to leave earlier than I had planned. I was hoping they would reluctantly accept these but they haven't. 2 weeks isn't a long time but it's not possible for me to work out my notice. We have a relatively large team here and I wouldn't be leaving any work or project up in the air.

My question is what recourse, legal or otherwise, do they have to make me stay?

Eoin

youcrazyjesus! wrote: »

My question is what recourse, legal or otherwise, do they have to make me stay?

I answered that - you are possibly in breach of contract, for which they could potentially sue you. I've not heard it happen to non-executive level staff, but that's your risk to take. They can't do a whole lot if you just don't turn up in reality.

Presumably you never have to use them as a reference?