Serving notice

I wanted to get the opinions of fellow orgers;

I have been offered a new job which I cannot refuse, however they want me to start in just over a weeks time. Trouble is my existing employer wants 4 weeks notice. How do I play this, I do not want to upset my current boss and she's been very good to me, however I don't want to miss this opportunity.

Is there a legal standing on this issue, what the worse that can happen?

Has anyone else been in this situation of offer advice.

[Luckypants]

Well as always, talk to your boss about it. She may be able to waive the notice period. Also the new employer is being un-reasonable if they expect you to just be able to start at the drop of a hat. Anyone they employ for this role will probably need to serve a notice period. Negotiate with both employers to achieve a mutually beneficial end/start date.

Another option is to use any leave owing to shorten your notice period, so you start your new job while on holiday from current job. You get paid twice, but end up with no leave for a while.

Seems a bit unfair of the new job to ask you to start so soon. I'd do waht Luckypants says.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by DanDare

I wanted to get the opinions of fellow orgers;

I have been offered a new job which I cannot refuse, however they want me to start in just over a weeks time. Trouble is my existing employer wants 4 weeks notice. How do I play this, I do not want to upset my current boss and she's been very good to me, however I don't want to miss this opportunity.

Is there a legal standing on this issue, what the worse that can happen?

Has anyone else been in this situation of offer advice.

What notice period does your current contract stipulate?

[Drew Carey]

To be honest, if the new company really want you, they will wait. But as above, check what your current employer states and then talk to the new company.

I need to give 4 weeks notice but they ideally want me to start on the eighteenth of this month. The training course starts 1st September and thats none negiotiable. To start on the 18th is to give me a feel for the place but I don't see why it can't wait till after my course.

No one can force you to work for them. But the very worst is that you quit, they hire someone else to do the job and send you a bill for the cost.

Oh yeah, if you need a reference from them then don't expect a glowing testimonial, they might well say that you let them down.

Say your mother has become drastically ill and you need to find a job closer to where she lives (100 miles away) so that you can take care of her.

Cry lots. Bring kleenex (for the crying, unless your boss is hot).

Originally Posted by Davido

Bring kleenex (for the crying, unless your boss is hot).

Excellent

I had this happen to me. My new employer wanted me straight away and my old employer wanted full notice.
I said to the new employer that i was a fair and loyal chap and felt it only right that i serve a period of notice, this went down well with the new employer as he could see i was not one to dump people in the crap and i wanted to do what was "right.
I told my old employer that i had enjoyed my time with them and hoped that they understood i was trying to better myself and hoped with all the good service i had given them that they might bend the rules a tiny bit.

both parties saw sense and i cut my notice period in half and both sides got part of what they wanted

HTH