Respecting your people

A young woman recently told her employer she intended to resign and take a new job elsewhere. This was after 3 weeks with this employer. An awkward situation, the manager said she would think over the weekend about the request for a shortened notice period of less than one month.

Monday arrives, the young woman is told that as she is being disruptive (untrue) she will have to finish that day.

A series of quick calls ensue; to mum for advice, to the new employer. Response from new employer - sorry to hear of this problem, we will be delighted though to have you start with us on Wednesday if that is how things work out.

Current employer, presumably having got some advice, backpedals. Now discussion becomes a choice of finishing that day or at the end of the week (employment agreement has a one week notice period by employer only in the first 90 days).

Young woman decides to finish that day after a stressful and scary experience. On arriving home that evening she finds a bottle of champagne and a welcoming note from the new employer.

A more respectful approach from the current employer may well have seen an agreed notice period that better balanced their resourcing needs with the young woman's request.

The new employer has clearly shown respecting the person and the investment in their new recruit as being important on a business and personal level.