How long is a "month" in a contract?

[Energize]

In my employment contract it states that I have one months notice, but in my redundancy letter for payment in lieu it says 4 weeks notice. Is a "month" not just taken to mean one months normal salary or 22 working days? A "month" is not defined in my employment contract.

 

[Tefal]

28 days I'd imagine.

or 4 working weeks.

 

[Akagi]

Until the same date the following month. At least that's how it's always been for me. Don't know if it differs from company to company.

 

[neil_g]

Probably just hr not using consistent terms. Probably worth speaking to them.

 

[dowie]

Well presumably you're paid in 12 monthly instalments? I'd be expecting one of those instalments to be paid, if they try to skimp on that by paying you for 4 weeks instead then point out what your contract says.

 

[Tomsonn]

I believe it's a month. If January then 31 days, if April then 30 days and so on.

 

[glenimp617]

If you work for o2, a month means 62 days

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

Between 28 and 31 days. A month's notice starting today (11th August) would mean 11th September (31 days). If a month's notice started on 11th February (so 11th March) then it would be 28 days.

 

[Sliver]

Some of my direct debits work on a 28 day cycle, others work on a specific date. So I guess it depends on who you are dealing with.

 

[Hagar]

Redundancy rules are different;

Statutory notice: You must be given a notice period before your employment ends.

The statutory redundancy notice periods are:

at least one week’s notice if employed between one month and 2 years
one week’s notice for each year if employed between 2 and 12 years
12 weeks’ notice if employed for 12 years or more
Check your contract. Your employer may give you more than the statutory minimum, but they can’t give you less.

EDIT If you are paid monthly, you should get your normal monthly salary with all usual benefits, pension etc paid. This may be paid in lieu of working your notice.

 

[Aldav]

In my experience, "month" usually means calendar month, I.e. a given date this month to the day before that date next month, unless you are paid on a four-week, thirteen times a year cycle. Whereas if they mean four weeks, they usually say four weeks. The problem is that even dictionaries give multiple definitions. including both of those, and I'm not aware of any legislation that stipulates the definition in this context.

Ultimately it's a contractual matter so it'll be whatever one side or other can convince a court it is, but the monetary difference is so small it's not worth taking it to court. So it'll end up being whatever the company's HR say it is. So, contact them, point out the disparity and ask for clarification.

Or, contact someone like Citizen's Advice or maybe ACAS and ask their opinion. Or if really dstermined to make an issue of it, a specialist in employment law. You may find one that'll give you 5 minutes on the phone without charge, and five minutes should be enough to answer this.

 

[Energize]

I'm paid in 12 installments a year, I'm being paid in lieu of my 1 month notice period. £200 is worth taking it to court for me considering court fees are only £25. I will contact the above to clarify.

EDIT - I've got it sorted, it's a full months salary.

 

[VTR]

Date to Date for me, handed my notice in at my current place last week.

 

[Artery]

Same date following month I'd imagine.

 

[Hotwired]

Place I'm at pays every 4 weeks which ofc means things cycle at a different rate to calendar months going past.

No great difference to me, presumably helps when trying to compare periods of time on the books as each block is the same length.