How much notice do you actually have to give, or get?
For site workers and apprentices quitting, being let go, or being walked off the job. Covers statutory minimum notice plus what a contract can and can't override.
Sound familiar?
- “My contract says one week, but I've been there two years. Is that right?”
- “I've been told to leave at the end of the day. Do they have to pay me notice?”
- “I want to quit but I'm worried they'll chase me for not giving notice.”
- “I'm an apprentice. Do the same notice rules apply?”
What this tool does
Calculates the statutory minimum notice period based on your length of service, and compares it against what your contract says. The longer of the two is what applies.
Count from your first day of employment, not your contract date. If you're not sure, check your payslips or P60.
What the law actually says
- •The Employment Rights Act 1996 sets statutory minimum notice: one week after a month, then one extra week per full year worked, up to 12 weeks.
- •Your contract can give more notice than the statutory minimum, but never less. If the contract says less, the statute still applies.
- •Being dismissed without notice or pay in lieu is usually unlawful unless it's gross misconduct, which is a high bar.
What to do next
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