Legal Amount Of Notice You Need To Give An Employer?

[JustJenni]

Hoping you can all help me, i cant seem to find a clear answer online. I've just been offered a new job and want to hand my notice into my current employer, ive had a look in my employee handbook and it says i have to give 4 weeks notice as ive been with the company more than 4 years. I was hoping there is a legal loophole allowing me to give less? I reducing my working hours in September as i have gone back to college full time and wouldn't be able to carry out my full time contract any more and my employer was kind enough to allow me to do this. I currently only work 4 works a week on a Saturday and this is purely to give me a little extra money to keep myself afloat. I thought about asking to take it as holiday pay but obviously with it being December i highly doubt that would be aloud. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[woofgang]

Go and talk honestly to your employer would be my advice. Employment contracts are not "law" as such, although there may be a legal remedy if the contract is not adhered to; so there won't be a "legal" loophole. From what you say, your current employer has behaved well towards you, I think that you owe them the courtesy of being honest and open with them. I don't say this as a criticism but you did ask for advice.

[JustJenni]

thanks woofgang, i was going to speak to them in person about it anyway, there's recently been a change in management and im not sure how well its going to go down if im honest. we dont exactly get along and i worry she may make things difficult now ive decided to leave

[trt]

## I currently only work 4 works a week on a Saturday ##

Do you mean you only work four hours a week justjenni?
If you do I dont think you need to give 4 weeks notice, what do you work at?

[Canary42]

Your reference to December implies your employer is under extra pressure at this time, so obviously they may not take kindly to sub-contract notice. But you will lose nothing by discussing it with them, and possibly reaching a compromise.

[Maydup]

As woof has explained, there is no "law" about this. If you were to leave without notice you would lose the relevant pay, which you would lose anyway if they gave you permission to go; but what is more at risk is your reputation and your ability to ask them for a reference.

If you do work just four hours on a Saturday, you are unlikely to put their business at risk by leaving but i think they have been more than generous to you in the past, now its your turn.

You should explain to your new employer that you have to give 4 weeks notice and could they either rota you out for the first few saturdays or give you a new starting date.

[boxtops]

If you have any holiday owing, you can include that in your leave period, so you may not have to give 4 weeks' notice.

[thugulike]

If you leave before the required period of notice your employer could sue you for breach of contract but that, in reality, is highly unlikely. They can though give you a very poor reference. You never know when you will need that reference so better to talk to your boss, explain and ask for some flexibility