Provisional resignations

Lakeland

Lakeland

Lakeland

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Does such a thing exist? I work in education if that makes a difference..

I am in a strange place where I could leave myself unemployed if I can't submit a provisional (conditional?) resignation.

In my role I have to submit a resignation no later than the 31st May if I want to move to a new establishment. I have been given a verbal offer of a new job and I have verbally accepted, there are the usual background checks which I know won't be problem but there is also the reference checks, these shouldn't be a problem but I can't guarantee I won't get shafted for giving my current place almost zero time to replace me.

So the problem is the new place haven't received the references yet, and I have to submit my resignation by today else I can't start the new job in September, and if I submit my resignation and the new place decide not to take me, I'd be unemployed. I have been informed by the HR at my current place that I can submit a provisional resignation but I can't find much information about provisional resignations, there is a fair bit out there about conditional resignations although they don't relate to the education sector.
 
sounds dubious - you either resign or you don't... though if it is your current HR telling you this then maybe not so much of an issue, don't see why you can't tell them that you provisionally resign etc.. if it isn't official and you don't get the new job then, well you've not resigned. If you do get the new job - well they told you it was OK to do it that way...
 
I have a job offer letter, an unsigned contract from the new place and an email saying they're willing to go on risk with regards to references due to the timescale, so it all looks good but there is still an element of risk which unsettles me.
 
dowie said:
sounds dubious - you either resign or you don't... though if it is your current HR telling you this then maybe not so much of an issue, don't see why you can't tell them that you provisionally resign etc.. if it isn't official and you don't get the new job then, well you've not resigned. If you do get the new job - well they told you it was OK to do it that way...
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Only thing is the conversation with my current HR was verbal
 
Lakeland said:
I have a job offer letter, an unsigned contract from the new place and an email saying they're willing to go on risk with regards to references due to the timescale, so it all looks good but there is still an element of risk which unsettles me.
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That'd be enough for me, unless you're likely to get poor references. I'd go for it otherwise.
 
Lakeland said:
Only thing is the conversation with my current HR was verbal
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OK but your written resignation won't be, so write it making clear that it is only provisional and based on you being able to start this new job... since they've told you it is OK to do so.
 
Stuff said:
That'd be enough for me, unless you're likely to get poor references. I'd go for it otherwise.
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The only reason for a poor reference would be a stab in the back, I have a very good record and was offered a cash incentive to withdraw from interview.

dowie said:
OK but your written resignation won't be, so write it making clear that it is only provisional and based on you being able to start this new job... since they've told you it is OK to do so.
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I'm typing an email now which starts as a provisional resignation (as advised by HR) and then states that in the unlikely event that the above is not legally binding then they may consider this a formal resignation.

I think that's the best I'm going to get given the timescale :)
 
What happens if you DON'T give the required notice period?

Tip: An employer cannot withold pay or accumulated "unspent" holiday pay, regardless of notice periods worked or not. You can walk out of one job with a days notice and go into another the next day and it wont affect you financially (other than burning bridges etc).

The only enforceable notice periods are Employer to Employee - not the reverse.
 
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The deadline doesn't stand in law but I would get blacklisted and find it extremely difficult (or impossible) to find employment without moving to a different county.
 
Lakeland said:
The deadline doesn't stand in law but I would get blacklisted and find it extremely difficult (or impossible) to find employment without moving to a different county.
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Well, blacklists are illegal too but yeah, I know what you mean.
 
My partner works in teaching and I've worked in many schools so know how it works.

When I've seen things like this in the past the employee wanting to leave has always informed the school verbally of the situation and made them aware.

It means if the worst came to worst you could stay, but they also know so will accept your written resignation a few days / weeks later.

It also means they can start to get an advert out for your position.

If you have a new job lined up the school won't hold you to your notice period as they won't want to keep a teacher who wants the leave and has another position lined up Verbally keeping them in the loop means they can start to move things forward.

I'd probably follow it up with an email to your line manager if they are on the SLT after you've had the chat.
 
SLT are fully aware, they put an advert out as soon as I told them I was going for interview, they basically have to fill my post by today else whoever they appoint has to be someone who's out of a job already or the dregs from uni who haven't managed to get a job yet. I think they have someone lined up unofficially who's being made redundant so it shouldn't be a problem for them other than they've had to take someone they probably didn't want, the only problem for me is SLT really don't like people who go for interviews at other schools and they are thoroughly ruthless when it comes to staff, fortunately the new place knows all too well what my current school is like so if they try to stitch me up the new place will probably see straight through it, I hope!
 
If you have a solid record then there is no possibility of a poor reference, it's extremely dodgy legal ground to give a negative reference without supporting evidence. I suppose they could provide the bare minimum, but it's only going to reflect badly on them as an institution if they don't provide the standard expected details for your job
 
OP: I have a new job pending...I have emailed to accept but as there are 3 months of security checks I technically have NOTHING until I sign the contract.

Keep your own interests at heart. Do NOT tell your current employer until you have a signed contract that has been confirmed to be received by your new employer!
 
Lakeland said:
SLT are fully aware, they put an advert out as soon as I told them I was going for interview, they basically have to fill my post by today else whoever they appoint has to be someone who's out of a job already or the dregs from uni who haven't managed to get a job yet. I think they have someone lined up unofficially who's being made redundant so it shouldn't be a problem for them other than they've had to take someone they probably didn't want, the only problem for me is SLT really don't like people who go for interviews at other schools and they are thoroughly ruthless when it comes to staff, fortunately the new place knows all too well what my current school is like so if they try to stitch me up the new place will probably see straight through it, I hope!
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That's fine then, the school I worked out would interview and hire before the person 'leaving' had even got a job. It always works out.

Just keep your line manager / SLT updated and make them aware as soon as you have signed the contract you'll hand in your resignation. They won't want you to stay now anymore than you would want to so they'll waiver the May half term deadline.

Btw the school I use to work at would hire 8-10 NQTs each year (average turnover was 12-15) and were recently rated by Ofstead as 'the most outstanding school they have ever been into', if the school you work for are not considering NQTs they are mugs - they are cheap and can be excellent.
 
Currently in an academy and going to a UTC. I know one of my references from a colleague is outstanding so a poor one from the school would look suspect straight away.

If I wasn't working in a school I'd just keep my head down until I had full written confirmation but my contract is different to most.
 
Lakeland said:
If I wasn't working in a school I'd just keep my head down until I had full written confirmation but my contract is different to most.
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But your situation is very common, your current school will have had this countless times in the past.

Keep them updated, don't hand in anything written yet and as soon as you have the signed contract resign.
 
Peerzy said:
That's fine then, the school I worked out would interview and hire before the person 'leaving' had even got a job. It always works out.

Just keep your line manager / SLT updated and make them aware as soon as you have signed the contract you'll hand in your resignation. They won't want you to stay now anymore than you would want to so they'll waiver the May half term deadline.

Btw the school I use to work at would hire 8-10 NQTs each year (average turnover was 12-15) and were recently rated by Ofstead as 'the most outstanding school they have ever been into', if the school you work for are not considering NQTs they are mugs - they are cheap and can be excellent.
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When I said about dregs from uni I was meaning that most of the quality nqts will have been snapped up by now. I was an nqt myself last year, we are cheap and often do just a good a job as those who are twice as expensive, I've seen some nqts that are better come to think of it.
 
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