You must give at least a week鈥檚 notice if you鈥檝e been in your job for more than a month. Your contract will tell you whether you need to give notice in writing - otherwise you can do it verbally. Give written notice if you think you鈥檒l need to refer to it later, for example at an employment tribunal. You may be in breach of your contract if you don鈥檛 give enough notice, or give notice verbally when it should be given in writing. Your employer could take you to court. Your notice period usually runs from the start of the day after you handed your notice in. If you change your mind If you resign in the 鈥榟eat of the moment鈥� (eg during an argument) and you change your mind, you should tell your employer immediately. They can choose to accept your resignation or not. Get free advice from Acas Call the Acas helpline to get advice about handing in your notice and pay rights.

Payment during your notice period

You鈥檙e entitled to your normal pay rate during your notice period, including when you鈥檙e: off sick on holiday temporarily laid off on maternity, paternity or adoption leave available to work, even if your employer has nothing for you to do 鈥楶ayment in lieu鈥� of notice period Your employer can ask you to leave immediately after handing in your notice. If they do, they鈥檒l probably offer you a one-off payment instead of allowing you to work out your notice period - called 鈥榩ayment in lieu鈥�. You can only get payment in lieu if it鈥檚 in your contract, or if you agree to it. If you don鈥檛 agree to it, you can work out your notice period. Disputes over notice pay If you can鈥檛 resolve a dispute about notice pay with your employer informally, you can follow your company鈥檚 grievance procedures . If this doesn鈥檛 work, you may be able to make a complaint to an employment tribunal for breach of contract.

Your employer may ask you not to come into work, or to work at home or another location during your notice period. This is called 鈥榞ardening leave鈥�. You鈥檒l get the same pay and contractual benefits.

Restrictive covenants

There may be terms in your contract that says you can鈥檛 work for a competitor or have contact with customers for a period of time after you leave the company. These are called 鈥榬estrictive covenants鈥�. Your company could take you to court if you breach the restrictive covenants in your contract.

Handing in your notice: Your employment contract

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Handing in your notice

Your employment contract

If you want to leave your job, check your employment contract to find out your employer鈥檚 policy on handing in notice.

There are rules about:

giving notice
how much you鈥檒l be paid during your notice period
what will happen if you leave to work for a competitor

View a printable version of the whole guide

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Handing in your notice

Your employment contract

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