Quitting job to start a new one immediately

Purpledragon88

So I'm technically still in probation at my work - bit complicated - it went from temporary agency work to freelance to permanent within a year and a half and I'm nearly three months into the permanent contract now which has a 3-month probation period.

It's not working out, I hate the job, I've hated it for a while but had to keep it out of necessity, it pays well below the national minimum for me to pay rent and bills and I have to commute to it via train unpaid, which of course is draining my bank account even more.

I literally just got another job offer for a position 10 minutes away from my house, higher salary, no commute expense and they want me to start immediately.

Only problem is my current contract says absolutely nothing about my notice during probation, in fact all it says is my employer can dismiss me with no notice or compensation other than wages owed for hours worked already. It states I have to give notice of 4 weeks upon completion of my probationary period but theres absolutely nothing stating what that notice I need to give before the probation is completed.

So as you can see, there's some confusion as to what I tell my new employers about my expected start date when I haven't got a clue how much notice I have to give at my old job.

You hear people say don't quit a job without another one to go to - as I DO have another job to go to, straight away, can I just send them a resignation with immediate effect and walk out?

Undervalued

Purpledragon88 wrote: »

So I'm technically still in probation at my work - bit complicated - it went from temporary agency work to freelance to permanent within a year and a half and I'm nearly three months into the permanent contract now which has a 3-month probation period.

It's not working out, I hate the job, I've hated it for a while but had to keep it out of necessity, it pays well below the national minimum for me to pay rent and bills and I have to commute to it via train unpaid, which of course is draining my bank account even more.

I literally just got another job offer for a position 10 minutes away from my house, higher salary, no commute expense and they want me to start immediately.

Only problem is my current contract says absolutely nothing about my notice during probation, in fact all it says is my employer can dismiss me with no notice or compensation other than wages owed for hours worked already. It states I have to give notice of 4 weeks upon completion of my probationary period but theres absolutely nothing stating what that notice I need to give before the probation is completed.

So as you can see, there's some confusion as to what I tell my new employers about my expected start date when I haven't got a clue how much notice I have to give at my old job.

You hear people say don't quit a job without another one to go to - as I DO have another job to go to, straight away, can I just send them a resignation with immediate effect and walk out?

No (although they might agree to you leaving immediately if you ask them nicely)!

If you have been employed for a month or more you are obliged to give one week's notice unless your contract specifies more. Yours seemingly only specifies a longer period if you have completed "probation" so the legal default of one week should apply.

pjcox2005

Just to add it will depend on employer and industry but many jobs have a 3 month notice period so if you're telling your new employer that you have a week or a month notice period to work then it shouldn't be an issue.


Obviously the shorter the better from your point of view which seems to be the case with the advice above of 1 week.

TadleyBaggie

Did you really need to start a second thread on this?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5896762/resigning-with-immediate-effect-within-probation-period

foolofbeans

Purpledragon88 wrote: »

my current contract says absolutely nothing about my notice during probation, in fact all it says is my employer can dismiss me with no notice or compensation other than wages owed for hours worked already. It states I have to give notice of 4 weeks upon completion of my probationary period but theres absolutely nothing stating what that notice I need to give before the probation is completed.

So as you can see, there's some confusion as to what I tell my new employers about my expected start date when I haven't got a clue how much notice I have to give at my old job.

I would agree with undervalued with the statutory one week notice. However there is an unfair contract term in that your employer can dismiss you with no notice or compensation and it is usual to put the employee in the same position as the employer i.e. leave without giving any notice. Probably best to give a weeks notice though to be fair to the employer.