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[accidental_prof]

Now that the end is nigh, and there is a real possibility of a new TT job offer, it finally occurred to me that I might be in a difficult spot here.  Current Uni will cut off pay and benefits as soon as I offer my resignation letter.  They're just mean like that.  New Uni job states the typical "Start August 2011". 

Is something like this (start of pay/benefits) usually negotiable?  I feel like I'm going to be stuck being unethical about the timing of my resignation at current uni in order to protect the little offspring. 

Gah!

A_P

[glowdart]

Sometimes, from what I read around here, you can start pulling salary from the new job at the start of the fiscal year, but that depends on their pay schedules; it doesn't sound promising with the "start August 2011" terminology.  You might also be able to get on health insurance early, but again that varies school to school and plan to plan; at some places, you have to pay to get on early, if you can do it at all. 

Personally, if you know that they are going to cut you off, then I would not resign until from your current job until mid-July/early August (depending on timing of checks and benefits). 

Our contracts clearly state that our twelve-month salary is paid August 15 - August 15, so if we resign, then they have to keep paying us through August 15 because that's work we've already done, but if your contract isn't written in such a fashion or if your school has the history you suggest it does, then cover your own ass.  Their policies are wreaking their own havoc in this scenario. 

[reener06]

Legally, you are entitled to COBRA to extend your health care benefits. You have to pay for it, and there is a small (3%?) increase in costs to pay for admin costs on COBRA's end, but you can continue the insurance until your new job begins. Sometimes with new jobs there is a lag of a few weeks or a month before the new insurance starts, so it helps to now that date too, so you don't stop COBRA too soon. Your HR office at your old job should give you the COBRA information once you submit a resignation.

As for the other, I agree that perhaps you should hold on to your resignation letter until the last possible moment.

[lurkingfear]

If you're current uni is going to fire you as soon as you resign, whatever the effective date of that resignation may be, then it's simple - don't resign until 2 weeks before you start the new job.

It's not unethical. They made their own bed, and now they get to lie in it! If enough people resign in this way over time then dept chairs and deans will eventually wake up to the fact that they are getting screwed by this policy, and endeavor to change it. If they don't, then they shouldn't be surprised when they get resignations at the last possible minute.

[msparticularity]

On a legal/ethical level, the appropriate resignation date depends entirely upon the schedule for salary payment. Some places work like Glowdart's, where salary for the preceding academic year is extended out into the following summer. At my old institution, though, the contract for each year began on July 1, with the first salary payment on August 1. The final salary payment for each academic year was thus made on July 1. For that job, if I had waited to resign until after my August 1 paycheck had been issued, I would actually have been receiving pay for work I had not done and did not intend to do--and that would have been both unethical and illegal.

In other words, it all depends upon which academic year the summer salary is attached to.

[ruralguy]

Yeah, just finaggle on both ends...end at current place as late as you can, and start at new place at the earliest. Most places, August is the MANDATORY start time, so that you arrive for classes, but will ALLOW early starts any time after July 1 (begining of fiscal year).

COBRA for 1 month, if needed, I assume, won't totally break the bank, but try to avoid it (not sure if COBRA applies though if you RESIGN).

[anon99]

If they really will fire you and terminate pay and benefits as soon as you hand in your resignation, then I'd say forget the normal two weeks notice and let them know at the very last minute.  I can't see them witholding pay if you are on a 10 month contract being paid over 12 months; but I've learned not to be surprised by any thing.

[accidental_prof]

If you're current uni is going to fire you as soon as you resign, whatever the effective date of that resignation may be, then it's simple - don't resign until 2 weeks before you start the new job.

It's not unethical. They made their own bed, and now they get to lie in it! If enough people resign in this way over time then dept chairs and deans will eventually wake up to the fact that they are getting screwed by this policy, and endeavor to change it. If they don't, then they shouldn't be surprised when they get resignations at the last possible minute.

I will be the 2nd (that I know of) to play it as you described, if I do.  The last two to resign did so honorably and with plenty of notice ... and were summarily locked out and cut off.  Leaving the rest of the faculty to cover their classes (for free) for the rest of the semester.  I would hope that it sends a message.  And yes, our faculty contract/manual etc. all state that pay will continue through mid-summer.  A fact lost on the administrolls currently running things.

On a legal/ethical level, the appropriate resignation date depends entirely upon the schedule for salary payment. Some places work like Glowdart's, where salary for the preceding academic year is extended out into the following summer. At my old institution, though, the contract for each year began on July 1, with the first salary payment on August 1. The final salary payment for each academic year was thus made on July 1. For that job, if I had waited to resign until after my August 1 paycheck had been issued, I would actually have been receiving pay for work I had not done and did not intend to do--and that would have been both unethical and illegal.

Exactly.  Hence my dilemma.  I don't WANT to behave unethically, however I cannot bridge a nearly 4 month gap if I do the right thing and resign in May. 

[lurkingfear]

It seems insane to fire someone mid-semester just because they found another job. It seems like the admin is trying to save money with this more than anything. Anyway, the answer is clear - give them 2 weeks notice and that's it. If they are breaking contracts when people give notice, then you shouldn't lose a wink of sleep if you do the same. Anyway, it sounds like the result would be the same either way. Either you give plenty of notice, get fired, and others have to pick up the slack, or you quit later on, they can't/won't hire anyone new, and others have to pick up the slack.

[spectacle]

Exactly.  Hence my dilemma.  I don't WANT to behave unethically, however I cannot bridge a nearly 4 month gap if I do the right thing and resign in May. 

They're bonkers - they're leaving you no choice.  Do what you need to do to protect yourself and your family. 

I absolutely agree with lurkingfear.

[the_honey_badger]

If they really will fire you and terminate pay and benefits as soon as you hand in your resignation, then I'd say forget the normal two weeks notice and let them know at the very last minute.  I can't see them witholding pay if you are on a 10 month contract being paid over 12 months; but I've learned not to be surprised by any thing.

We have a punative system on this issue (no contracts, we are *individuals* by God and don't need any stinkin' protections!!!!!--> that is the political line in this right-to-fire state).  If you have 12-month pay division they will pay you immediately and you can pay your insurance premiums that are openly stated to be artificially high because they are paid benefits for May-August or whatever. Reportedly the lump paycheck screws you in the short term on witholding. That's what they say anyway. 

 If you are on 9 month you end in May anyway. Any summer teaching scheduled here?  That is GONE---gotta give it to those who have "loyalty" don't ya know!

I've watched well-meaning, responsible people get absolutely screwed by this. Now no one with a brain does anything but announce after August 1st "oh, I won't be back this year...."  Not to anyone.

Also---if you are slated to start August 1 here that means your pay period begins on the duty day or two before classes start in late August and your FIRST paycheck is October 1st.  So, check on the first PAY DATE not the "hire date" where you are going. That is what matters to your wallet.

[accidental_prof]

Excellent!  Thank you all for validating my impending bad behavior :)  It's not like they'd sue a poor prof over breach of contract ... I hope.

[lurkingfear]

It sounds like the budget of this uni is in a bad way. The last thing they'll want to do is spend a bunch of $$ on a lawsuit against a former faculty member who has no money.

Did they sue the last two people who did this? If not, you are probably fine.

[accidental_prof]

It sounds like the budget of this uni is in a bad way. The last thing they'll want to do is spend a bunch of $$ on a lawsuit against a former faculty member who has no money.

Dunno.  We have a million $ pres and purty new buildings.  I'm not really in the know about the "real" state of our finances.  But yea, is a couple thou worth all the legal hassles?

Did they sue the last two people who did this? If not, you are probably fine.

I don't know how they settled.  The only only ex I keep in touch with was "fired for resigning" and hu successfully sued the Uni for the remainder of hu's contract.  Uni did make hu go all the way to court before settling though. 

At the end of the day, they have it coming.  They'd screw me over without a seconds pause to consider the implications to my family.  I just can't see why (other than in the broader ethical sense) they deserve any more consideration than they'd give me.