[GreenMeansGo]

So, we just submitted our EOI. OH's boss knows that he is going "on vacation" to New Zealand this month, but he hasn't discussed with her the fact that we are considering moving to New Zealand, much less starting the whole process.

If our EOI is selected, do they contact the employer right away as part of their initial checks, or does that come later with the ITA and/or NZQA? We both don't want her to find out the wrong way- much better to talk it over before she gets a call from NZIS. It's difficult not knowing a timeline or even if we'll be approved, however, as I'm sure that is the type of information that would be helpful for her.

What did you do?

[Familyofmonkeys]

OH supplied payslips, job desription and job offer letter from when he started, along with his pay annual pay increase letters his last job in UK......and no one ever contacted his company for a reference. He was going to leave it as late as he could to give notice...i.e. 4 weeks before he left, but then he came home from work one day and told me he'd had a bad day and had given his notice in :eek: We hadn't ever got our blue stickers at that point....but luckily they arrived 2 weeks later.

[Bergita]

My boss knew that my OH was away for a month but not where. I took the day off on the day he came back and the following day I went to work and handed in my notice. The penny dropped for my boss at that point and I could see him thinking back and realizing that I must have had the intention of resigning for some time. It made things a little unpleasant, and in retrospect, I should have tried to find a way of telling him sooner.

Unfortunately it's never clear cut as to what is the right thing to do, it depends on office politics and relationships and all sorts of other things.

[willow]

i had to ask my direct line manager for reference to get nurse registration in nz and also she had to write a letter saying how long i worked for the uk health service in my current role (for our ita). so, my boss knew of our intention to apply for residency almost as soon as our EOI started to be compiled because i am a nurse.

if you don't need things signing for registrations etc, then i would wait until you have been selected as there can be a long wait and many hiccups between getting your eoi approved and submitting you ita, eg you may have problems with medicals etc.

we have taken the line of telling as few people as possible until we get confirmation we can go. don't forget you have a year to leave for nz after residency is approved. obviously some people are in a rush because of jobs.

we have a friend who told everyone, caused havoc at work, got a real attitude with his employer because he was going to live in nz and became really negative about the uk way of life. he didn't get in and looked a complete fool!!

[Grey Granite]

I really really really want to tell my employers as they are fantastic folk to work for. I'd really like to airlift my job to NZ, as would my OH! I think they would be supportive of me, but I'm holding on until OH gets a job offer. I think then I will have to say why flat is going on the market.. After all, he may have to go ahead of me and leave me to sell the flat. I've already sold my motorbike and we have a buyer lined up for Mr Gs, and the car!

Both of us know that we have been 100% dedicated to our employers, and we want to keep it that way till we're ready to go...
Mrs G

[vic11]

I waited until my blue stickers arrived. Then I told my direct line manager that I had got them, but I wasn't planning on leaving yet. She thought it was fantastic news and just said not to let onto to anyone "higher up", until I wanted to make it official. It made things a lot easier to do once I handed in my notice.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I told my managers I was looking into the possibility six months before we left. They didn't seem to take me too seriously and were genuinely surprised when I handed my notice in.

There was no contact by NZIS. I did have to obtain a reference, but working for a huge multi-national machine it was all very matter of fact via HR, so no problems there.

[benandclare]

Clare gave her bosses the mandatory 3 months notice, job secured here.

I gave my boss 8 weeks notice. This was the first he knew about it but my work mates had known for ages we were planning to go.

:cheers

[Marsh]

Wow we have all done it differently. I kept quiet in my job and told my colleagues who happen to be good friends as well. They were surprised but very supportive and kept it quiet. My wife informed work pretty much about 6 months into us having started the whole process. I managed to get a letter via HR confirming employment salary etc... even that was hard work as they thought i wanted it for a new job and why did i want it etc....i got out of explaining...things had gone down hill at the job anyway and i decided enough was enough anyway later this year resigned went contracting and that was a few months ago...as a parting shot told management about the move which totally shocked them and there were a lot of green eyes...so that filled me with joy as the last 18 months the politics had got out of control etc....Now i am happy working for myself and we leave in February 2009. As for my wife everyone (she is a teacher) has rallied round her. "If you want extra work (she is a part time teacher) to help with money as the move is not cheap please let me know"....etc

In short as you can see everyone gets different reactions. But i would leave it as late as possible and only tell those you trust. If you are in a good work environment (like my wife) then no problem, but if like i was before, you are not ,then think carefully. Good luck.

[dusk]

We told our employers really early, as we had actual job offers in January but were not planning to leave our jobs until sept/oct time and we both work at the same small company, so it seemed best to give our manager as much warning as possible :)

everyone here has been fine with us about it all.

[johanpet]

DH told his boss and his boss was very suppotive - even gave him a reference letter - His boss told him that is also thinking of immigrating to NZ and it ended up in a exchange of websites and info.

[Mrs Pony]

I haven't told my boss, a few coworkers but i have it all over my facebook & myspace page so I'm sure someone else has told her already... she has her spies... and I'm not kidding about that... She could care less if I'm here or not... (yes she's THAT cold) I should get my big fat bonus check in either Oct or Nov which will be a HUGE blessing... then I'll tell her... in case she tries to screw me over...

:raebanana:raebananaWe should be in Welly by March 09! No later!:raebanana:raebanana

[thewoodies]

As im a teacher it was easy i left at the end of the school year even though we are not leaving until december - for a teacher i feel its best for everyone if you can leave at the end of the school year - less disruptive for the kids and makes planning easier for the head - i am available for supply if they get desperate so that cushioned the blow. My head was very supportive but then he is a good headmaster. However my OH hasnt told his boss and is dreading it , he only has to give a months notice but will give 2 to cushion the blow , the boss will probably give him 2 months of hell instead of 1!!! :exit

[GreenMeansGo]

thanks all... I guess it really depends on how close-knit your work group is. OH is in a medium size company, but his work group within that company is fairly small and cohesive. So sooner rather than later, probably. I think in his case, it would go over better that way, as he does have a good relationship with his boss.

[Toonster]

I told my employers that we were planning to move to New Zealand really early on (as in, about two years ago!). I work for a really small (and very friendly) company, and they had been discussing long term career plans for me - I didn't want them to be under any illusions that I was there for life (as quite a few of my colleagues are).

They've taken it really well - I promised to keep them up to date at all points, so that they didn't get left in the lurch, and in return, they've offered extra training/different project experience if I need it for a job out in NZ, and also to waive the 3 month notice that I will need to give (I don't know how quickly we would need to move to get out there).

Our wedding present from them was also money towards the move, which was really nice of them :-)

My husband works for a large multi-national, and has let his line manager know, but as his LM is a contractor, and I don't think he has told anyone else in the company, it might come as a shock when he hands in his notice...