Notice period - is this odd?

[PopcornPants]

I work full time in an admin role but have recently seen a part time role I am thinking of applying for. I have checked my current contract and although I have only been in my current full time job for just under a year, I have to give 3 months notice to leave. This puts me in a real predicament as most admin roles I've had - and very senior one's at that, only require one month's notice.

I'm worried about applying for the role and being asked about notice period and not able to take on a new role (either this role or anything that comes up in the future) due to the long notice period I have to do. I've never come across this before and I wondered how easy it is to waiver this sort of long notice period. Will I be made to work 3 months notice and if I get offered a role elsewhere which needs to start in a months time, would I have to decline that job?

I find this all very confusing. Any ideas?

[flowery]

Well, it's easy to waive if it your employer is willing to do so, there's no reason they can't let you go earlier if they want to.

3 months is unusual for an admin role I agree, but if its in your contract and they want to make you stick to it, they can do.

Of course you could just give less notice and walk out after a month. Realistically although this would be a breach of contract, there is very very little chance they'd actually take any legal action against you. The problem would be you could kiss goodbye to any decent reference from them now or in the future.

Your best bet would be to ask to be released early. No employer wants a disgruntled employee sitting round for 3 months so it is entirely likely they'd let you go sooner if you ask, unless you would be in the middle of a crucial project or something.

[PopcornPants]

Thanks flowery! Good to know!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

As an employer who puts two months notice in my contracts that my staff get before they start work. The idea of trying to negotiate notice time down is a big bug bear. I put it in for a reason less than 2 months totally stuffs life for the rest of the staff.
I find it really hard to deal with and the member of staff always ends up making out I am being unreasonable.

[flowery]

3 months is pretty usual for management but expecting admin staff to give 3 months' notice is a bit unreasonable I think. And while 2 months isn't obviously as bad, if its in a role where a month would be more usual, I don't think anyone could be blamed for asking if there's some wiggle room.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I do get that, but I just find it irritating flowery I guess being a really small business I feel they should know how much pressure that will put on people they class as friends. Though probably grouchy at the moment as had a couple if people try to take p* recently.

[flowery]

Well, they may know perfectly well how much pressure it will put on people but at the point someone has resigned they are half out the door and usually not thinking about that at all unfortunately.

Plus, there are many occasions where an employer might be grateful for a request from an employee to be let go early, as it gets them out of the office where they might be disruptive/not productive, without having to pay them.