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Discussion

Resignation with only 2 weeks notice?

I'm a fairly new grad with one year of RN experience. I currently hold a full time temporary position in Alberta. I have worked really hard to find a new job as I want to advance my career. My current position is providing learning opportunities, but not enough. I also recently broke up with my fiancé, and without going into details, it is important for me to relocate.

I recently accepted a travel RN assignment and gave 2 weeks notice to my employer. Apparently, 14 days notice is not enough. The UNA contract states that employees must give 28 days notice when resigning. However, because I am a temporary employee would this apply??? What would happen if I went against the contract? I do not want to give up this assignment because it might be the only opportunity I have to get into travel nursing in the U.S. I want to work with my current employer, but I also have to advance my career and seize the opportunities available to me.

Advice needed!! Please help...

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    • Featured Replies

    What are they going to do? Kidnap you and make you stay there? They cannot make you stay there. Take you travel contract and enjoy.

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    • Author

    If I do not give "proper" notice, will this come back to haunt me???

    Don't I want to leave my employer on good terms?

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    If I do not give "proper" notice, will this come back to haunt me???

    Don't I want to leave my employer on good terms?

    That's really what it comes down to. If you signed a contract, you should consider honoring it- especially as a new nurse without a solid reputation yet. Do you want one of your two references to be bad? What if the travel job turns out to be horrid and ends on bad terms, too?

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    • Author

    I actually didn't sign the contract.... It is automatically considered when you are a nurse in Alberta. The strange thing is that UNA is supposed to be affiliated with the Alberta Federation of Labour. Under the Alberta Federation of Labour, I would only be required to give a weeks notice....

    I have been very fair with my employer, often staying later than scheduled -- and without asking for overtime. I have driven into work in unsafe winter conditions in my little car...

    I am a new graduate and have been trying very hard to get a job to advance my skills... With my lack of experience, I can't be turning down offers... especially when they are few and far between.

    This new offer is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I do not see that a travel job would end on bad terms because my recruiting agency is very helpful and accommodating.

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    I actually didn't sign the contract.... It is automatically considered when you are a nurse in Alberta. The strange thing is that UNA is supposed to be affiliated with the Alberta Federation of Labour. Under the Alberta Federation of Labour, I would only be required to give a weeks notice....

    I have been very fair with my employer, often staying later than scheduled -- and without asking for overtime. I have driven into work in unsafe winter conditions in my little car...

    I am a new graduate and have been trying very hard to get a job to advance my skills... With my lack of experience, I can't be turning down offers... especially when they are few and far between.

    This new offer is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I do not see that a travel job would end on bad terms because my recruiting agency is very helpful and accommodating.

    It sounds like you have your mind made up and are rather optimistic about this new position. Hopefully things will work out the way you're expecting them to. :eek:

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    Sometimes it just means you aren't eligible for rehire.

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    Contract & labor rules/laws differ in Canada. You will get a response in the Canadian forum if patient.

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    • Experts

    if you are member of UNA you will have to abide by the rules.

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    • Experts

    Temporary employees are still considered to be UNA members, with all the rights and responsibilities that brings. UNA wasn't the party wanting that language and that requirement in the collective agreement, but sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. Labour law says notice must be one full pay period, so if you're paid by the week, notice is a week, and so on. But like most labour laws, it can be and has been superceded by collective agreement language. Do you have unused vacation hours you could take for those last 2 weeks? That's one way of getting around it.

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    • Author

    I am going to try really hard to get my shifts covered, and I am also going to ask the travel company if there is any way to negotiate a later start date. If I'm not able to cover all of my shifts &/or the travel company cannot negotiate a later start date, what will happen if I explain to the employer that I am not able to follow through with the expectation of 28 days notice? As far as I see it, I absolutely do not want to cause the employer any grief... But this is also my future we are talking about.

    As a new graduate, I cannot turn down offers left right and center. I simply do not have lots of offers coming my way!

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    • Experts

    You really don't want to burn any bridges if there's even the most remote possibility you'll ever want to work in Alberta again. I think you'll find that the travel company will be more flexible than AHS. It won't be the first time they've had a hire run into this kind of issue. Best case? You're able to reach a compromise with both parties and everyone comes out smelling like a rose. You could give AHS 28 days notice, work the first 3 weeks, take all of your vacation and stat time owing for the last week, and have the travel company push back your start date by 1 week. Everybody gets what they need.

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    The recruiting agency is very helpful and accommodating because they want you to work for them so that you generate income for them.

    What about the place you are going to? What reputation do they have? What kind of working conditions? Why are they needing to staff with travelers?

    I would want to leave the current place on good terms, you may want to go back there.

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