Reducing notice period for move from perm to contract

[Wils]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

[Antman]

If you don't ask you never know!

However you'll be burning a bridge if you ever have a change of heart and decide to stay there.

[Segush]

I got an offer from the main competitors (perm) and pretended I accepted it. Was put on gardening leave 5 minutes after handing in my notice.Started my new role contracting the following day as agreed.I did sweat a lot during this time as it was a big risk,but it worked!!!!

[Willapp]

The thing about notice periods is that unless you perform a vital service to the company and your abrupt departure would result in actual financial loss for the business (loss which exceeds what they would save by not paying your notice period), there's really nothing a company can (or will) do if you decide to leave sooner than your contract requires.

Having said that obviously nobody wants to leave a bad impression, but once you take into account any owed holiday entitlement it's often possible to shorten down a 4 week notice period to 2 or 3 weeks pretty easily. What I would do in your situation is tell any potential contract clients that you're available within 1 or 2 weeks (whichever you prefer), and once you get an offer in writing just tell your current employers that's when you'll be leaving.

[BrilloPad]

Is your current notice a month? Look for a gig and tell them you have some holiday to use up so can start with 2 weeks notice. Then negotiate both sides - either you can finish early or start later.

Though if you are nervy now - what are you going to be like once a contract ends and you are benched for a while? Are you sure contracting is for you?

[Gentile]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

You should wait until you've got a contract first then deal with it. I've never yet experienced a permie employer objecting to someone asking to reduce their notice period so they could take up another opportunity (who wants an unmotivated employee hanging around for longer than they wanted to?) One particularly charming COO at a startup I worked at once petulantly asked me if I "wanted to leave immediately" when I handed in my notice, clearly hoping to save money and indicate their displeasure at me deciding they weren't the employer for me at the same time. They seemed really annoyed that I hadn't swallowed their kool-aid about how successful the whole venture was going to be when in reality it was obvious they were tanking. I worked my full two months notice in that case just to spite the guy; childish, I know.

[MarillionFan]

Is your current notice a month? Look for a gig and tell them you have some holiday to use up so can start with 2 weeks notice. Then negotiate both sides - either you can finish early or start later.

Though if you are nervy now - what are you going to be like once a contract ends and you are benched for a while? Are you sure contracting is for you?

WHS

The trick is to make sure you have holiday time in the bank. Then it's carry on as normal, interview, tell the agents you're ready next week & then play a little poker with both sides.

[BolshieBastard]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

Have you got any leave accrued? If so, tell your employer you want to include this in your notice period ie 2 weeks leave left, so you only work 2 weeks of a 4 weeks notice period.

Otherwise, its down to the employer agreeing to reduce the notice period which they may or may not do.

[Willapp]

The trick is to make sure you have holiday time in the bank. Then it's carry on as normal, interview, tell the agents you're ready next week & then play a little poker with both sides.

Do be aware though that some employment contracts (I've had one previously) can state that it's up to the Employer whether accrued holiday can be taken during the notice period or simply paid in lieu so there are cases where a disgruntled Employer might refuse to allow unused holiday to shorten the notice period.

Having said that, as per my previous post it's very unlikely any employer would do anything if you left part-way through your notice period - worst case it might just mean you don't get a great reference!

[kettlebellBA]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

Once my first contract was in place I exited a perm position with 3 days notice.

I was prepared to walk and face the consequences (not a lot legally / financially, but potentially damaging to my reputation), but to be fair my ex line manager pulled out all the stops to "make it happen" cleanly...

I was hugely under utilised and the org was looking to cut heads so it gave them a zero cost exit, and meant that i left on good terms - they paid my part month salary owing and I even got a "you must come to the xmas do" offer.

So it can be done, but as others have advised I guess it depends on your particular circumstances and your role within your current org.

Be rational, be honest to yourself and if its right go for it, if not keep saving and looking!