Leaving work, possibly without notice

Someone once told me that no one is indispensable, if there's a crisis you must do what you have to.

I always understood that although a job might add a period of notice to your contract they couldn't hold you to this as you are free to take your skills elsewhere in a free market economy.

The worst that could happen would you would not be paid for that period.

I couldn't comment on your employer's stance without knowing all the facts. Perhaps they have no choice but to ask you to work your notice, if the alternative means leaving a vulnerable person without their only help and support.

I hope things work out for you, OP.

Truth is I'm not sure if I can. I work as a carer, supporting someone in their home and life, so yes, it will be very awkward for them
I may be able to honour my shifts, things may get desperate and i'll need to leave. Its all so stressful. I hate upheaval.

Take a deep breath and be honest, MissA, the outcome can't be worse than the worrying and guessing you are doing. Let us know what happens and good luck.

Do you work for an Agency who could arrange for someone else to go in,surely it is better to have a managed exit than an emergency when the person you care for is left with out a carer if an emergency happens.Also my understanding of a trial period is that notice either side can be immediate,is your involvement with your persinal circumstance fully understood that you may have no choice and may not turn up for a shift, I understand the nature of your work makes you need to be more than reliable but you have been put in a position not through choice and have an impossible situation to be inagain they wont do much good but just trying to show empathy

I would never suggest leaving anybody in the lurch, but your employers have to be realistic (and show some understanding)
What if you had had an accident? Broken your arm/leg? Had a bereavement? Had an infectious disease?
There must be contingency arrangements.

I wouldnt have thought a trial
Period could demand a months notice. Do you have a
contract to that effect? I would suggest seeing your doctor and get signed off. You have enough to deal with.

It goes totally against the grain for me, too, maw, which is why I'm wringing my hands about it all.
It seems ridiculous to be giving support to someone else instead of my family. As you say, if I had been run over or something they would have to manage, by calling in agency staff.

Just looked online. Google safe workers. They give Legal advice on employment problems. otherwise cab. Good luck.

Thanks sliver, I will have a look now. X

Good luckx

Well, I did it! I checked out my contract, and I was required to give a weeks notice, not a month. So, I saw the manager this morning, and told her that I have to leave. She was very very nice. Gave me a hug.
I've emailed my notice, so will leave one week from today.
Thanks for boosting up my confidence to do it, everybody.

Well done MissA I know you are in for a very difficult and troubling time, but at least now you will be doing it all free from the stress of your job.
My very best wishes to you all.

Thanks so much, Annsixty.
I still have to work, but I'm hoping now to be an agency person, so I can do just one day a week if that's all I can manage, and on a day when its feasible. Usually I'm such a creature of habit, but this last few years..

So glad you have managed to sort things out MA. x

Thanks silver. You've no idea what a trial it was to face up to saying "I only need to give one week, according to my contract". I felt like running away!! X

You stood your ground, your employer was not in the right and should not have put you in this position when you first raised the issue. You did well and were in the right. Well done. Thinking of youx

likewise. X