Urgent! Employment contract signature

blued

Sorry to mark this as urgent but I need a quick answer. I've been offered a job and have received an unsigned copy of the contract by email with the hard copy of the contract in the post. I'm out of the country for a week from tomorrow but need to resign from my job first. Is it safe for me to resign without having a signed hard copy?

Thanks in advance.

Uncertain

It is not ideal but basically yes.

As you probably know you have no protection from unfair dismissal for two years when starting your new job. Obviously you do have whatever rights your contract gives you which would normally include a notice period. Without the contract this would drop to the basic legal minimum which is no notice at all during the first month then one week for the remainder of the first year.

Without the contract they could theoretically tell you not to start and you would have no recourse. With it they could still sack you without reason and just pay you the notice.