need advice on shortening notice period

I was wondering if anybody could give me some advice on a problem i have regarding giving my notice.
i have been offered a better paying, easier to get to and more interesting job with another company. when asked how much notice i needed to give i answered in good faith two weeks as i genuinley believed to be true. it turns out my contract requires a month to leave. i cannot lose this job and i have asked my own job can i bring the leave down to two weeks which they said they will see what they can do but cannot guarantee anything.

does anybody have any advice to what i can do as i have just taken on a mortage i genuinely cannot lose this new job.

any advice is appreciated.

gary

It probably won't make any difference to the new company. Let them know asap... better to be up front with them from the start. It's not necessarily a problem yet.

Have you any holiday time to take?

If you don't care about getting a reference from them, then just leave at the end of the two week period. There is nothing they can do that will cost you anything to prevent you from leaving.

No i have no holidays as the leave year just started this month and i wouldnt have worked any up by now. the company said they need me soon because the person im replacing is leaving at the end of next week and they have to train me in the systems.
i do have 4 sick days should i consider giving them in lieu of notice or can that be done? if anybody has any other advice please lert me know because im in a panic over this.

Gary 23 said:

i do have 4 sick days

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I never really understand this idea of sick days that can be taken at will even if not sick. Is this a feature of some jobs or something?

How long are you in your current job ? If you're under five years and have no contract stating minimum notice (you appeared unsure above) then 2 weeks is the notice period. Check out the doe faq here. btw - sick days are NOT leave days. They are uncertified days in which you can take if your sick as long as they dont exceed 3 consecutive days in most companies.

My contract does say 1 months notice. the only problem with leaving and getting no reference is that i have done a good job here and if things dont work out in the next job my career is in jeopardy as most of my jobs have been linked together and i have built myself up to a place where if i lose this reference it will be difficult to get to where i willl be again. a few people have said just leave anyway but if i did resort to that as a last option would my old employer ring my new employer to tell him i am unreliable and risk me losing my job with the new company?

Then you have no choice but to go immediately to your current employer and plead with their better side. If they cant give you a difinitive answer then come clean with the new ones and explain the situation. Tell them you dont want to let your current employer down as they are very busy and it would be unfair to leave them in the lurch. The new company would hardly be able to get another candidate so quickly anyway and sure if you're the right man for the job that should make no difference.

Hi,

I agree with Elcato.

Surely the fact that you are staying there as per your contract is a sign that you can show responsibiity and loyalty to the companies that you work for.

Explain that you have had a good working relationship with your current employer, you have achieved experience and background and therefore you need to fulfill your contract them as your signature is on it.

I would imagine your new employer would respect you for it if nothing else.
If this new job is the right thing for you then it will not pass you by. I can't see them rushing out to find some one else for the sake of 2 weeks.

Good Luck!