Leaving Job - Notice Period?

buckeejit

buckeejit

buckeejit

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Hey all, I'm currently on the lookout for a new job. I currently have a job but am far from happy. It states in my contract that I must work a notice period of 4 weeks before leaving and my question is... is this 'need to do' thing? My boss is a right tit and I've heard stories of him taking people to court in the past for not working their notice period.

Oh and btw, I'm not really in the mood for - 'You should be grateful you have a job in these circumstances' etc.
I am not leaving my current job, I would like to know the details (above) etc.

Ta.
 
if your contract says 4 weeks then that's what it is. You can remove all your acquired holiday from that though.

MW
 
Mr-White said:
if your contract says 4 weeks then that's what it is. You can remove all your acquired holiday from that though.

MW
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Happy days, thanks. Do you know what would happen if I broke my contract and left without working notice? I know I'd prob be taken to court but what would be the outcome?
 
I think it's very unlikely he would take you to court - does anyone know of any examples of someone being taken to court over not working a notice period and losing?

However, no matter how rubbish your job is, make sure you have another job lined up before thinking about leaving!
 
buckeejit said:
Hey all, I'm currently on the lookout for a new job. I currently have a job but am far from happy. It states in my contract that I must work a notice period of 4 weeks before leaving and my question is... is this 'need to do' thing? My boss is a right tit and I've heard stories of him taking people to court in the past for not working their notice period.

Oh and btw, I'm not really in the mood for - 'You should be grateful you have a job in these circumstances' etc.
I am not leaving my current job, I would like to know the details (above) etc.

Ta.
Click to expand...

I've been self employed for most of my life so I know little about PAYE but I think the operative word here is "contract".
If that is what you agreed to then I suspect you will have to give that amount of notice if you intend to leave!
By the same token, he can't just terminate your employment at short notice if the termination time is reciprocal, unless for very good reason.

He may however waiver this 4 week notice at his discretion if you approach him sensibly and explain why you wish to leave but as far as I can tell, he is entitled to expect you to complete your contract!
EDIT: I'm quite sure you could just up and leave but you may want a decent reference, so he's unlikely to be forthcoming if you just drop him in it!
 
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From direct gov:

If you have worked for your employer for one month or more, the legal minimum amount of notice you must give is one week.

Normally your employment contract will set out a longer notice period. If it does, you should give this length of notice to your employer.

'If your employment contract does not set out a notice period you should give a reasonable period of notice to your employer. This is included in your employment contract as what is known as an ‘implied term’. What is 'reasonable' will depend on your seniority and how long you have worked there.'

Does this mean legally you can do just one week of notice?
 
No matter how much of a penis the boss is, never burn your bridges..

If your contract states four weeks then give him four weeks.
 
Just do the 4 weeks, you never know if one day you might need to go back. Any new employer should really be expecting to have to wait that length of time for a notice period to be served. Feel free to leave early on your last day though.
 
Brookert said:
Does this mean legally you can do just one week of notice?
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It might but it's unlikely that your contract won't contain a notice period and/or that if you've been there a while that it won't be interpreted as somewhere longer than a week - if you're very junior or have been there a very short time then you've got a better chance of finishing up early but otherwise it'll probably fall to the contractual period.

It may well be worth talking to your boss though and enquiring if they would be amenable to you finishing before the contractual period is up.
 
I'm in a similar position to you, I'm currently on the last two days of my weeks notice. Its best if you can work it, as to avoid complications later down the road. But its unlikely to end up in Court if you don't. Only reason I'm doing it is because I want to make sure I will get paid without hassle, and also its the busiest day of the year for Kitchens this Sunday so I can't leave them in the **** ;)

I also have a much better job to go to the week after so a win situation :) Don't let it get you down too much mate, there's light at the end of the tunnel!
 
Do the notice period. It will be a lot less hassle in the long run. What if you do get another job (hope you do BTW) and while you are working at this job your previous employer is taking you throught the courts, obviously this is going to have an effect on your new job with all the hassle it may cause
 
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