my rights to give notice as employer dropped hourly rate without telling me

X_claire_X

hello when i received my payslip this month my hourly rate has dropped this was the first i knew of it i havent seen my manager since to ask her why this is.
sorry rather long but basically i started the job 6months ago and signed a temporary employee contract as 1st 3months were probatinary and this contract states my hourly rate and that when in probationary period 1weeks notice to quit is required and further on says for normal staff it is 4weeks, i was made permenant last month after 5months there but havent signed a new contract nor have i signed anything agreeing to lower hourly rate.
i have been offered a new job and told them my notice period is 1week as presumed it was as havent signed permenant contract but just wondered if this would be the case as says permenant staff 4weeks on contract i signed?
the thing is i wasnt told about a pay drop and had i been told i would have handed my notice in before now, does anyone know in this case if i am entitled to only give 1weeks notice?
many thanks

sammyroser

You don't usually sign a second contract after passing a probationary period. Did your contract have an end date on it? If not then you will have to work the 4 weeks notice.

If you were to leave early you will be in breach of your contract and your employer is allowed to sue you for damages IF they can prove mitigating loss. Your ex-employer will also be allowed to write on any requested reference that you breached the contracted terms which sounds a lot worse then it is but can look very bad.

I left a job after 10 days when my contract said 4 weeks as I asked my employer if I could. They agreed so no issues.

Sambucus_Nigra

First off - find out why the hourly rate has dropped. Then make a decision about handing your notice in. You could have a huge row and walk out never to return - or it could be that they have just made a mistake and you need to negotiate a leaving date.

Evilm

As above check why this has happened.

Then try to have a reasonable discussion if you find out that they are trying to reduce your pay rate. Just keep calm.

And, yes, you should probably work out your months notice. Don't give them a way to hurt you more by being able to say you didn't work your notice on a reference request.

paddedjohn

if they have dropped your hourly rate without consulting you then surely this is an illegal stoppage from your wages, yes/no?