If I leave this job do they have to pay me?

textbook

Just started a job (4days) but can't decide whether to stay.  If I leave, do they have to pay me for what I worked ?  Is notice of termination to be given by employee important?  Think it's 1 week for less than a months work?   I get paid on 31st so if I quit on 1st Jan and leave on 8th ok?

vacheron

If you serve (and work) your required notice (which will be the statutary notice period if not specified otherwise in your contract) then your employer should pay you up until your leaving date.

Statutary notice is none for up to 1 month, then 1 week after 1 month, so you could quit on the 2nd and leave on the 2nd, or quit on the 3rd and leave on the 10th.

As an aside, I've never understood the concept of probationary periods because you can basically be terminated on a whim in the first 2 years anyway. To me, it's no more than a psychological trick by employers to get employeees to work harder in the first few months! 

Once your probationary period has passed you have no more protection from dismissal immediate dismissal over the next 21 months than you did when you were on probation.

prowla

Probationary periods work both ways - you are also assessing the company.

I'd be inclined to give them a week's notice rather than just leaving on the day.

DullGreyGuy

vacheron said:

As an aside, I've never understood the concept of probationary periods because you can basically be terminated on a whim in the first 2 years anyway. To me, it's no more than a psychological trick by employers to get employeees to work harder in the first few months! 

Once your probationary period has passed you have no more protection from dismissal immediate dismissal over the next 21 months than you did when you were on probation.

It can be nothing more than a "trick" but it can also be more... my penultimate perm job you had 1 months notice during probation, 3 months notice post probation. Amusingly some poor drafting in the contract was utilised by one colleague who wasnt making the grade but managed to pass the 3 month probation window through cancelling the end of probation meeting and/or going sick. As you passed unless you were told otherwise he got to receive 3 months notice when he turned up to his end of probation meeting 3 months and 1 day after he started.

Certainly with some employers you weren't entitled to have a company car or certain other (flexible) benefits until probation was passed.

It can be a tool to ensure new starters dont get too much value (or create too many costs) whilst both sides are deciding if each other is the right fit @vacheron

Undervalued

textbook said:

Just started a job (4days) but can't decide whether to stay.  If I leave, do they have to pay me for what I worked ?  Is notice of termination to be given by employee important?  Think it's 1 week for less than a months work?   I get paid on 31st so if I quit on 1st Jan and leave on 8th ok?

Yes, in theory at least, they have to pay you for days you have worked even if you walk out without notice. However, you would be in breach of contract and if that caused them any financial losses (e.g hiring a temp at a higher rate for your notice period) they could sue you for the extra cost. It is not all that common but it does occasionally happen..Another possibility is that they don't pay you and effectively say "you sue us and we will sue you!

So it would be far better to give the week's notice you have agreed. By all means ask them if you can leave immediately, if that is what you want to do. They may very well say yes then everybody is happy.

vacheron

DullGreyGuy said:

vacheron said:

As an aside, I've never understood the concept of probationary periods because you can basically be terminated on a whim in the first 2 years anyway. To me, it's no more than a psychological trick by employers to get employeees to work harder in the first few months! 

Once your probationary period has passed you have no more protection from dismissal immediate dismissal over the next 21 months than you did when you were on probation.

It can be nothing more than a "trick" but it can also be more... my penultimate perm job you had 1 months notice during probation, 3 months notice post probation. Amusingly some poor drafting in the contract was utilised by one colleague who wasnt making the grade but managed to pass the 3 month probation window through cancelling the end of probation meeting and/or going sick. As you passed unless you were told otherwise he got to receive 3 months notice when he turned up to his end of probation meeting 3 months and 1 day after he started.

Certainly with some employers you weren't entitled to have a company car or certain other (flexible) benefits until probation was passed.

It can be a tool to ensure new starters dont get too much value (or create too many costs) whilst both sides are deciding if each other is the right fit @vacheron

He sounds like my kind of chap!

Yes, it certainly makes sense for company extras if these are then offered immediately after probation.

Our company does not offer enhanced pension contributions, SAYE entitlement or private medical until 1 year is served, but still implement a 3 month probation period with statutary notice periods, so there is no difference between 3 months and 23 months in relation to the employee's "protection" from dismissal / redundancy in our case.

gwynlas

It is always easier to get a job from a job rather than being unemployed.

If you leave to go elsewhere at least you can say that it was not the role you expectd rather than being seen as a quitter when things do not go your way.

General_Grant

As well as being paid for your time worked, you would have accrued some paid holiday entitlement,  They should pay for that too.

It's probably best to give a week's notice.  If nothing else it gives you more pay unless you have a higher paying job to take up immediately.

Brie

I'd say offer the week's notice but don't be too surprised if the company says they don't want you to come back.  You are costing them time and money just sitting there with someone explaining things to you even if it's where the coffee maker is.  

Marcon

So you've given it a whole 4 days to see what the job's actually like... Any chance if you gave it a bit longer you might feel differently?

DullGreyGuy

vacheron said:

DullGreyGuy said:

vacheron said:

As an aside, I've never understood the concept of probationary periods because you can basically be terminated on a whim in the first 2 years anyway. To me, it's no more than a psychological trick by employers to get employeees to work harder in the first few months! 

Once your probationary period has passed you have no more protection from dismissal immediate dismissal over the next 21 months than you did when you were on probation.

It can be nothing more than a "trick" but it can also be more... my penultimate perm job you had 1 months notice during probation, 3 months notice post probation. Amusingly some poor drafting in the contract was utilised by one colleague who wasnt making the grade but managed to pass the 3 month probation window through cancelling the end of probation meeting and/or going sick. As you passed unless you were told otherwise he got to receive 3 months notice when he turned up to his end of probation meeting 3 months and 1 day after he started.

Certainly with some employers you weren't entitled to have a company car or certain other (flexible) benefits until probation was passed.

It can be a tool to ensure new starters dont get too much value (or create too many costs) whilst both sides are deciding if each other is the right fit @vacheron

He sounds like my kind of chap!

Yes, it certainly makes sense for company extras if these are then offered immediately after probation.

Our company does not offer enhanced pension contributions, SAYE entitlement or private medical until 1 year is served, but still implement a 3 month probation period with statutary notice periods, so there is no difference between 3 months and 23 months in relation to the employee's "protection" from dismissal / redundancy in our case.

He wasnt, a chap that liked him and happened to have previously been a barrister was. The barrister was trying to make a pain of himself so they'd pay him off to go and he read the contract and created the plan. 

It worked, the former got his 3 months pay in lieu of notice and the barrister got 75% of his payout 1 year early and left. The former had a nasty car accident a little afterwards and hasn't worked as an employee since. Dunno what happened to the barrister, he was going to launch a new company (though legally it was his wife's company) but it never seemed to come to fruition.