Thought I'd use this existing post rather than starting another, and unfortunately I can't find an answer to my question anywhere on the acas website. I'm hoping someone here might be able to help.
My question is about notice periods. I've only been in my current job since June, but it's not turned out to be what I expected, it's not a nice environment to work in, and just to make sure the quality of the software I'm developing is on time whilst still being to a standard I'm happy with (i.e. it works, well) I'm having to put in ridiculous amounts of overtime (gone midnight for the last 3 weeks), unpaid overtime at that.
Anyway, today I got offered another job. The problem is my current contract states I'm on a 3 month notice period, however the new company need me to start within 2 months at most (ideally 1 month) as they already have some training booked which I'd need to go on.
I had an initial 6 month probation period, at the end of which I had a review and was advised I was successful. However, I never actually received anything in writing to confirm this, or signed anything. Can I potentially use this to shorten my notice period (I wouldn't ask to leave within a week, it wouldn't be fair, however the contract did state that whilst under probation the notice period would be 1 week). An ex colleague told me he did manage to leave a previous company with a weeks notice for this same reason, and HR apparently backed him up because they had hold of the unsigned probation paperwork, but I'd like some facts to back me up when I hand in my notice (probably tomorrow).
I'm not sure yet whether they'll try to hold me to the 3 months, but it does seem a little excessive as I've been there less than a year, but at the same time it is stated in the contract, which I signed.
Any advice appreciated.