Probationary periods and giving notice

nationaltreasure

Hi All,

I'm a regular poster but my username gives my name and location away so I've signed back up to post this!

I could do with some advice, i'm currently in a new job on a 6 month probation which ends in 2 weeks. I don't plan on staying and I've already been to a job interview last week.

I was told that I will probably find out in 2 weeks time if I was successful...

My contracts states that if I decide to leave within the probationary period I have to give 2 weeks notice, after that the standard 4 weeks which is fair enough.

What I'd like to know is and I can't find this anywhere on the internet or in my contract this scenario, what happens if I decide on the last day of my probation that I want to leave, i.e I find out I'm successful in the new job, do I still have to give any notice?

I have my end of probation review meeting planned in 2 weeks time where my employer will sign my probation off and I become a employee for good (and it's been indicated to me I'm doing a great job so far), but what happens if I decide I don't wish to stay and state that during the meeting? Can I just walk away at that point?

Worst case scenario the new job doesn't get back to me until my probationary period has finished, and i have to go along with it, sign it off and then leave and give a months notice later but I really hope I don't have to do that!

Thanks for any advice or experience in this.

Pricivius

Probation periods don't really mean a great deal - they simply serve to give a company a reason for increasing a notice period and maybe salary after a certain time. In terms of employment, you are as employed by the company during a probation period as you are after it.

So, if you resign on or before the last day of your probation period, you must serve the notice as set out in your contract for that period. It sounds as though it's 2 weeks. If you have to wait until after you've passed your probation period, then you must serve the notice as set out for that period. It sounds as though it's 4 weeks.

The employer may well be flexible if you decide to resign a few days after passing probation and let you serve less notice if you ask, but they don't have to. They can insist upon the notice set out in the contract, as could you if they decided to dismiss.

Judith_W

I agree that if you resign during the probation meeting that you would not have come off probation and therefore 2 weeks is fine.

J