Employer agreed notice period and now wants to extend it - UK
My employer requires a 3-month notice period, but the HR guidance online states to confirm the end date with my manager before submitting to HR. I have worked for this company before and have served a 4 week notice without issue/question. I agreed with my manager on a 3-week end date, which they confirmed, and I submitted this in writing. My manager then double checked the end date was right and got this confirmed with their manager. Once they all agreed, it was sent to HR and HR then sent a 'Confirmation of Resignation' email, confirming my final day as 3 weeks' time. The day after, my manager informed me that someone higher up was questioning why I 'didn’t give 3 months' notice' and felt I 'was rude for requesting 3 weeks'. I reiterated that this was a mutual agreement, and we both agreed there was no issue and they'd say as much to the higher up. A couple of days later, I received an email from my manager saying my notice period had been reviewed and was not approved, so I must work the full 3 months due to department demands. My manager copied in their manager but seemingly has not informed HR. However, I believe this is wrong as I have written evidence of my manager, their manager and HR confirming the end date in 3 weeks' time, leading me to believe I am now only contractually obligated to work the 3-week notice as agreed. I plan to contact HR to reconfirm this and ask them to respond to my manager. I don't want to risk responding myself as I'm losing faith in my management. I'm worried this could cost me my new job as I've already made arrangements to start my new role based on the confirmation of my 3 week notice period. Is it reasonable for my employer to now expect me to extend my notice period after receiving explicit confirmation from my manager, their manager, and HR? Would they be able to enforce the 3 month notice period if a 3 week notice period had already been explicitily agreed in writing by multiple parties?
My employer requires a 3-month notice period, but the HR guidance online states to confirm the end date with my manager before submitting to HR. I have worked for this company before and have served a 4 week notice without issue/question.
I agreed with my manager on a 3-week end date, which they confirmed, and I submitted this in writing. My manager then double checked the end date was right and got this confirmed with their manager. Once they all agreed, it was sent to HR and HR then sent a 'Confirmation of Resignation' email, confirming my final day as 3 weeks' time.
The day after, my manager informed me that someone higher up was questioning why I 'didn’t give 3 months' notice' and felt I 'was rude for requesting 3 weeks'. I reiterated that this was a mutual agreement, and we both agreed there was no issue and they'd say as much to the higher up.
A couple of days later, I received an email from my manager saying my notice period had been reviewed and was not approved, so I must work the full 3 months due to department demands. My manager copied in their manager but seemingly has not informed HR.
However, I believe this is wrong as I have written evidence of my manager, their manager and HR confirming the end date in 3 weeks' time, leading me to believe I am now only contractually obligated to work the 3-week notice as agreed.
I plan to contact HR to reconfirm this and ask them to respond to my manager. I don't want to risk responding myself as I'm losing faith in my management.
I'm worried this could cost me my new job as I've already made arrangements to start my new role based on the confirmation of my 3 week notice period.
Is it reasonable for my employer to now expect me to extend my notice period after receiving explicit confirmation from my manager, their manager, and HR?
Would they be able to enforce the 3 month notice period if a 3 week notice period had already been explicitily agreed in writing by multiple parties?
