r/EmploymentLawUK

England employment notice period — can I leave early if my employer refuses?

I resigned from my current job (worked 10-11 months approx) because the working environment and relationship with my manager became unbearable.

When I resigned, my manager verbally said a much shorter notice period could be possible, and we discussed earlier leaving dates. I relied on this when agreeing a start date with my new employer. She said in many instances that it was a a possibility. I then got another job. Based on what my manager had told me, I initially gave the new employer an earlier potential start date, but I later moved it back to a date my manager had suggested. The new employer agreed to wait for me.

Now my current employer says none of those conversations were agreed because they weren't in writing and insists I work my full contractual notice.

I had a meeting with HR and my manager to negotiate. I offered to leave at the beginning of the month, but they refused and said the earliest they would accept is around the middle of the month. They kept telling me I should be “reasonable,” that I'm leaving the team in a difficult position, that there may be new work coming in while other people are off, and that my new employer would wait if they really wanted me.
The problem is that I've already moved my start date once based on what my current employer told me. I cannot keep going back to my new employer and moving it again. I also do not want to. The situation with this employer before I resigned was honestly so bad I couldn't eat, drink, lost weight, was not sleeping, and it started really affecting my mental and physical health. It also had me isolating myself, and damage relationships about it because I was just crying every day about this and not talking about anything else. It changed who I am in a way I don't want to be. I do not want to work any longer.

If I leave before my contractual notice ends despite them refusing, what realistically happens in the UK?

Can they deduct losses from my final pay?

What losses could they actually claim?

Could they start disciplinary proceedings?

Could it affect my reference?

Should I tell my new employer?

I'm aware it could technically be a breach of contract. I'm just trying to understand the realistic consequences before deciding what to do.

I’m also pretty upset because I feel like I relied on what I was told, changed my plans accordingly, and now the goalposts have repeatedly moved. I just want this situation to be over.

Hey everyone, I am looking for some outside perspective and advice on a very stressful situation at my corporate design job. I am currently in the middle of deciding to write a formal grievance, and the toll it is taking is massive.

I have been working at a large corporate firm for three years. Over the past few months, things have escalated drastically to the point where I feel I am being managed out.

The core issue started when I had a conversation with my manager in a meeting about a goals review and I asked her if she thinks there is anything in my performance that could cause me to not get promoted soon as she knows this is my intention and I am working towards it as hard as I can. She flat out told me that I will not be promoted due to my sickness absences, which are directly tied to a documented physical health condition in my lower back.

Right after that, I decided to ask HR for an occupational health assessment so that my sickness absence can be reviewed differently and not block a possible promotion since ive been working as a grad for 3 years which is too long even in my managers view. When I talked to HR, the HR lady seemed very eager to know who told me I wont be promoted due to my sickleave and I felt if I told her that my manager did, my manager would get in trouble. So I said that im being proactive and letting the company know formally of my disability even though they know from 2024 when I initially got diagnosed. Only less than two weeks after this, my manager became increasingly hostile and initiated a formal Performance Improvement Plan entirely unannounced. The PIP was not even for actual performance issues; it was justified by minor mistakes that later happened after she even introduced the PIP itself.

There were zero prior warnings or constructive feedback leading up to it. The environment with her became so toxic that I formally requested a change in management, with her agreement but which was denied.

Due to all this happening and the affect on my MH I had to take sick leave for 6 weeks due to an extreme stress and flare up of my disability- I was unable to breath, had panic attacks and was very unwell I had to go to A&E.

During my sickleave, I have raised the issue of the PIP failing to account for my medical condition, and the way the PIP was initiated without prior notice and that the objectives were vague and undiscussed with me prior to the meeting where my manager ambushed me with saying the PIP starts today and I requested adequate workplace adjustments, and complained about the whole situation and my managers behavior. the response from HR was shockingly dismissive. They completely trivialized my need for accommodations. Instead of engaging with the specific issues I raised about my manager or my health needs, HR flipped the script. They failed to respond to my core concerns and actually threatened formal action against me regarding my absences.

Where I am at now:
Between my manager weaponizing my health and HR closing ranks to protect her rather than implementing any proper reasonable adjustments, or even changing my manager, the environment is untenable.

I am currently navigating a formal grievance process.

Outside of this job, I have been trying to building my own creative photography path and applying for other roles to transition out, but fighting this dispute while trying to do my everyday work is draining.

I am trying to figure out my next best steps:

1. Should I continue fighting the PIP and escalation process through formal HR and grievance channels?
2. Should I be speaking to an employment solicitor regarding failure to provide reasonable adjustments and disability discrimination?
3. Or should I resign and focus on like a new job or freelance work, and let the dispute go to protect my peace

I am worried that if I resign that I lose my rights because I genuinely feel like all of this has been unfair towards me. I have been working my ass of for this job, from working over time unpaid (from 9am - 10pm) and that my managers behavior towards me was unjustified. My only explanation is that she found out

Has anyone dealt with a similar corporate HR situation, a hostile manager, or a formal dispute regarding accommodations and PIPs? How did you navigate the exit, and was fighting it worth it?