Hi
My issue is as follows:

When I started at the job I was currently in, I failed to read the contract properly , and didnt notice the notice period of three months.
However, about three months after joining, we were all issued with new employment contracts. This one I did not sign, obviously beause of the three months notice period, and secondly because they wanted us to agree to working more than a 48 hour week if need be. I immediately addressed these issues with my line manager, and do have e-mails to back up this early correspondence. After a few months of deliberation, she came back to me and said that HR had said that it was up to the discretion of the line manager and she did not have a problem with me giving one months notice. This was a verbal agreement not written. This was also about a year and a half ago.I now have a new line manager, and have handed in my notice as I have been offered a new job. He says that although my previous line manager does recall the conversation, they are still going to hold me to the three months, as this is what it says in the contract.
Is this fair, and can I get out of it as I had a verbal agreement?? When I handed in my notice I wrote four weeks notice, but did agree to meet them half way between the one and three as a compromise. Can I just leave four to six weeks. or can they sue for breech of contract? Basically they are saying that if I leave before xmas I will be landing them in dire straits as it is year end!!
jo bailey