Notice Period - How Long To Give

[Mk3Ed]

Good Morning

I'm after a little advice, I have a start date for my new job which is one month today. However my contract states I only need to give a week's notice (I originally thought this was a month, when I went for interview)

Do I give a week? or shall I give longer?

I want to leave on good terms, but I don't want my employer ending my notice early if I give the month and making me leave after a week.

Any advice would be great.

[hornetrider]

Do what your contract says. If it's a week, there's a reason it's a week.

[anonymous-user]

Tricky situation but the ball is in your court. if you want a break or such before the new job, give 1 weeks notice. if you want a compromise give 2 but don't give 4 weeks.

If they have you on a weeks contract that is there issue not yours.

[Funk]

Wait 3 weeks and give the 1 week's notice.

Someone here a while back had a situation where he tried to be helpful by giving his employer longer notice than they contractually required. They repaid that helpfulness by kicking him out early in line with his contract.

Never give more than you're contractually obliged to and make sure the timings work how YOU need them to.

Accept the new offer, get the start date and resign a week before it. Anything else could see you lose 3 weeks' income.

Edit: found it - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=149...

Edited by Funk on Friday 18th December 11:31

[Dangerous Dan]

Whatever your contract says.

You are adhering to the terms of your contract, and your employer can not ask nor expect more than this. After all, it's their contract/terms you signed. If they only require one week, they've decided that for a reason.

Not your place to question. You don't need to offer more to be "on good terms".

The way I see it:
Either:
give a weeks notice now and have a nice break before starting your new job (if you are able to do this financially etc). If you like, you could offer your services for longer if they require (paid of course) which will absolutely place you on "amazing terms" with your soon-to-be former employer. Although be prepared that they may just say thank you and goodbye after the contracted notice period.

Or:
Wait until the last week, hand in notice.

[a7girl]

I gave 6 weeks notice instead of the requisite 4 so I have time to train my replacement. Losing two weeks wouldn't have made a huge difference to me but I'm the only person in my company that does my job and I knew they'd recruit from inside for it.

If you are going to work for a competitor/in the same industry I'd definitely only give contractual notice. In fact, in most circumstances I'd only give my contractual notice.

[creampuff]

I'd give them a full 2 weeks notice. Not too short, not too long, just right.

[Funk]

creampuff said:

I'd give them a full 2 weeks notice. Not too short, not too long, just right.

No, give them the notice you're contractually obliged to, otherwise the OP could find himself unpaid for a week.

If the company wanted two weeks' notice, they'd stipulate it in the contract. They only want one week and this is what the OP should give.

[bad company]

Funk said:

No, give them the notice you're contractually obliged to, otherwise the OP could find himself unpaid for a week.

If the company wanted two weeks' notice, they'd stipulate it in the contract. They only want one week and this is what the OP should give.

If the op has been there more than 2 years that would probably be unfair dismissal.

[Funk]

bad company said:

Funk said:

No, give them the notice you're contractually obliged to, otherwise the OP could find himself unpaid for a week.

If the company wanted two weeks' notice, they'd stipulate it in the contract. They only want one week and this is what the OP should give.

If the op has been there more than 2 years that would probably be unfair dismissal.

His contract requires him to give 1 weeks' notice. A week before he wants to leave, he gives them that one week. The moment he says, "I'm leaving," the clock would start ticking on that week. It's precisely WHY he shouldn't try and give more than the required period.

A previous role I was in for 8 years for a large UK company required only 1 week notice so it's not unusual to have a notice period that short.

[bad company]

Funk said:

His contract requires him to give 1 weeks' notice. A week before he wants to leave, he gives them that one week. The moment he says, "I'm leaving," the clock would start ticking on that week. It's precisely WHY he shouldn't try and give more than the required period.

A previous role I was in for 8 years for a large UK company required only 1 week notice so it's not unusual to have a notice period that short.

If he has been there more than 2 years I see no harm in him letting them know that he intends giving notice in the near future. That will help them to organise themselves.

[BrabusMog]

creampuff said:

I'd give them a full 2 weeks notice. Not too short, not too long, just right.

OK Goldilocks.

[Funk]

bad company said:

If he has been there more than 2 years I see no harm in him letting them know that he intends giving notice in the near future. That will help them to organise themselves.

I get what you're saying but if they needed more time to organise themselves they'd ask him to give two weeks or more...

[creampuff]

Funk said:

No, give them the notice you're contractually obliged to, otherwise the OP could find himself unpaid for a week.

That's quite possible. OTOH 1 weeks pay is not that much in the scheme of things and it may curry some favour if OP ever wants to work there again. There are two companies I've worked for and resigned from several times in my career. They have given me a job again and after a while I've resigned again. Rinse and repeat. I give more than the minimum notice if I'm able to. So far it has never backfired and I've never had the company give me their minimum notice.

[Funk]

Fair enough but if he gives them a month and they decide they only want a week he'd be out 3 weeks' pay which probably has a greater implication for him...

Bottom line: give the notice period they ask you to. It's that simple.

[creampuff]

^ haha, hence my Goldilocks advice. 2 weeks, not too little, not to much, just right

[BrabusMog]