Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Thank you so much, I appreciate this advice. Yes, I’ve been asked to tender in August and leave immediately, despite my notice period being 3 months. I am trying to avoid appearing difficult given how small the industry is, and how fast words spread. But I would really need the full notice period to look for a job. I am absolutely shocked and disappointed at the firm’s decision to do this to its associates during this challenging time.
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Sorry to hear that you've been placed in this difficult scenario. I know someone who was in your exact shoes and is now doing fine, although it was during a less turbulent time. (I have myself been in an only slightly more favourable scenario - and doing better now than if I hadn't been too).
For those who've never been in such a position, I'm sure OP is aware that he is entitled to 3 months' notice contractually but he/she is probably being threatened with facing a choice between tendering of his own volition with only one month's notice / immediate notice (but he can tell future potential employers that decision to leave was his), or three months' notice (but potential future employers will be told that he was asked to resign / terminated).
May I suggest this as a potential idea - tender now immediately of your own volition as is your right under the contract with 3 months' notice - in future if they or anyone tries to say that you were asked to resign, say that they only came up with that post facto and used that to threaten you to accept only one month's notice. Not really sure if this idea works though.
I also definitely agree with one of the suggestions above that trying to negotiate (6 weeks maybe?) is always worth considering. Definitely would not recommend litigation obviously to avoid appearing difficult (mediation/TADM..... maybe but I wouldn't recommend - too formal). I don't think there is a clear answer in how hard you should push in your negotiations, but I think you should take into account the silver lining about this event happening during this COVID - which is that the presumption people may have when they hear about this may be that your current shitty firm/bosses are doing this not because your performance is bad but because they are doing badly in this current economy. This is particularly true if your firm is e.g. a firm with a swanky set of law offices overlooking the Marina Bay with a high rental in the lease that has been rumoured to have had recent salary cuts.
Keep your chin up and put your full efforts into finding a new place that will better appreciate you, in a few years you will likely see this was a blessing in disguise. Apologies for the wall of text above.