Congratulations on being offered your new position. Now comes the daunting
task of handing in your notice.
Sometimes this stage can be more harrowing than the interview - especially if
you've been with your present company for a long time.
Preparation
Once you've received your Offer Letter from your new company, you need to
prepare to hand in your notice.
Try not to feel guilty about resigning - remember the reasons why
you decided to leave. It's likely those reasons are not going to change.
Write a Letter of Resignation. Keep this short and concise and include the
notice period you will serve and any pay outstanding (including holiday pay,
bonuses and expenses or commission owing) and when you understand you will
receive it.
Arrange a meeting with your Manager as soon as possible. Don't let time
drag . Your new company is keen for you to join them. If there is nowhere
very private, suggest having a coffee somewhere or meeting after hours.
Prepare what you are going to say and don't forget to take your Letter of
Resignation. Don't leave it on your desk for your boss or another colleague to
find, or don't give it to him/her and go back to your desk! This is one letter
that will need to be discussed.
The Meeting
Remember companies are often shocked and upset to lose a good member of staff
and they can be ' caught unaware ' when you hand in your notice.
Therefore you must keep the meeting professional and show your appreciation for
your time spent with the company. Agree your leaving date and the date you will
be paid for outstanding wages, etc. Don't forget to ask for a written reference.
The meeting should be very straight forward, especially if you show from the
start that your mind is made up.
If you show any doubt about your decision, it will be picked up on. The
following outlines some company 'tactics' that you should be aware of.
BEWARE: The "Counter Offer"
Some companies have been known to respond to resignations by
matching or exceeding your new salary package. If you have gone through the
recruitment process in the hope that you may get a counter offer (since your
colleague did) you are playing A VERY DANGEROUS game. The company is aware of
your unrest and dishonesty in going on interview and whilst the offer may appear
attractive, it may affect any future pay rises, promotional prospects and
training opportunities. We have found that 86% of people who accept counter
offers still leave within six months of deciding to stay at their present
company
Bad Mouthing
Some companies
are desperate not to lose staff. If you hear of a worrying piece of information
about your new company, PLEASE call your new company or Focus Insurance
Recruitment to dispel the rumour.
Emotional Blackmail
A great
deal of pressure can be placed upon individuals by companies to get employees to
stay, since it is very costly and time consuming replacing valued members of
staff. Often if the resignation meeting hasn't gone well, we have heard reports
of the following - threats not to pay wages or a bonus already earned, threats
to give a bad reference, threats of loss of entitlements to a prize you've won
or discounted holidays already booked and many other nastiness. There are
employment laws protecting your rights. Try to recognise these threats for what
they are - just threats. However always seek advice.
Peer Group Pressure
Companies
are not the only ones sad to lose good members of staff. Colleagues are often
distressed and disorientated at a team member leaving and will try many levels
of persuasion to get you to stay, often so they can be happy. When you have been
with a company a long time this can be difficult, as you have been very used to
the way things are run and have probably earned a lot of respect. However, all
good things must come to an end and there is nothing to stop you keeping in
touch with your colleagues socially.
Magic Promotion
This is often
produced 'out of a hat'. Again, your company does not want to lose you and
whilst the offer of promotion is no doubt sincere, do you really have to hand in
you notice before your efforts are rewarded?
Ensure you explore the real
reasons why you want to leave and ask yourself 'has anything really changed?' If
it hasn't, then graciously turn down the opportunity.
Shown the Door
This can often
happen in a sales environment or where there is a high level of confidentiality
entrusted. Some companies feel that making an employee work their notice can
upset the rest of the workforce, as he/she is demotivated and will probably not
be as productive. Don't feel that you have been 'dumped and rejected'; it is
probably for the best, since you can now join your new company much sooner.
Above All
If you have any serious doubts about whether you are 'doing the right thing,
PLEASE talk to us. Moving to a new company is at worst daunting and at best
challenging and exciting. Just remember your new company will be counting on you
joining. They may also like to hear from you from time to time to feel confident
that everything is going to plan.
Your Rights
You will want to leave your company on amicable and ideally positive terms,
but how do you know when you have an employment contract that is unreasonable or
you risk losing your new job because of fears of bad references? The information
below serves as a guideline only. If you have an irreconcilable dispute, please
contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or a Solicitor for further advice.
- Notice Period - Statutory notice is set at one week for every year of
employment, to a maximum of 12 weeks (for 12 years' service). If you have signed
a contract for a longer period than this, you are entitled to renegotiate to a
more reasonable length - this is best approached in the resignation meeting.
- Some people prefer to shorten their notice by deducting outstanding holidays
owed from the period.
- Don't work longer than you have to. Temps have NO notice period, they can
leave immediately.
- Bad Reference - No company should give you a bad or non-factual reference
even if you leave on bad terms. Anyone who writes untruths leaves themselves
wide open to be sued for 'defamation of character.
- No Pay - Getting your last month's wages and entitlements from some past
employers can be like pulling teeth. Whilst most settle without a hitch, there
are some companies who raise disputes. Any wages owed to you are covered under
the Wages Act 1986. As a last resort, if phoning the company daily hasn't
worked; you can make a very simple claim in the County Court under the Act
without the need of a solicitor. Simply call your local court for the form and
information.