Unpaid leave and notice period

[Blackstar_solar]

Here's the situation:

I am currently working but want to leave to move to a different area of the country and I've already got interviews lined up.

I have been offered a free two week trip to america at the end of october (free cos gf parents are paying,) and the states is somewhere i've always wanted to go, but have never been able to afford it, and probably won't be able to again for a long time!

I've been thinking that given the amount of interest i've had from potential employers I won't have a problem getting another job and just to hand my notice in and go on holiday. If I get another job before then all employers i've spoken to said they'd be happy to wait if they wanted you.

The other option is to ask for unpaid leave at my current job for the two week period (basically say give me it or i'll leave, as above) my question is does anyone have any idea what would happen if I got a job before in october so that my 4 week notice period would finish in the unpaid leave, i.e. when I'm away?

Any help or advice you can offer would be great!
Thanks

 

[Raumarik]

I think it would depend on the employer and what your contract of employment states. It could go either way, they could look on the unpaid leave as the same as taking holidays to end your notice period early (which a lot of people do). Alternatively they could see it as a suspension of your employment, and expect a fortnight back after it.

Most employers want you out the door fairly quickly though especially in certain types of job. I think you'd have to have a chat with your boss.

I do know a couple of people who haven't worked notice periods, simply walked in, said goodbye and left. They didn't get any pay but I always wondered if employers technically could claim for any loss of company profits.