You've been offered a new job — congratulations — and now the practical question lands: how soon can you actually start? In the UK that comes down to your notice period, the amount of time you must keep working after you resign before you're free to leave. It sounds simple, but notice periods trip people up constantly: they confuse statutory minimums with contractual ones, panic about leaving early, or accidentally damage a reference by handling the exit badly. This guide explains exactly how UK notice periods work, the difference between the legal minimum and what your contract says, how to resign properly, and the awkward situations — gardening leave, pay in lieu, leaving early — that come up most often. It applies across every sector, whether you're a nurse, a warehouse operative, a teacher or an office worker.
What a notice period is — statutory vs contractual
There are two layers, and you're entitled to whichever is longer. The first is the statutory minimum set by law: once you've worked somewhere for one month or more, you must give at least one week's notice to resign. (Your employer's statutory notice to you is more generous — one week per full year worked, up to twelve — but the minimum you owe is one week.) The second layer is your contractual notice period, written into your employment contract, which is usually longer: one month is standard for many salaried roles, while senior, professional and some public-sector posts (NHS bands, teaching, management) often require two or three months. Your contract overrides the statutory minimum as long as it gives at least the statutory amount — and it almost always does. So the practical rule is: check your contract first. The notice clause tells you what you actually owe. If you've lost your contract, ask HR for a copy or check your offer letter and staff handbook. This is general guidance, not legal advice — for a specific dispute, contact Acas.
How to resign properly
How you leave matters as much as the timing, because your current employer is usually your most important reference. Resign in writing — a short, polite resignation letter or email stating that you're resigning, your notice period, and your intended last working day — even if you've already told your manager verbally. Work out your leaving date by counting your notice from the day you hand it in; for a one-month notice handed in on the 10th, your last day is the 10th of the next month. Time your resignation around the new job's start date: don't formally resign until your new offer is confirmed in writing and any conditions (references, right-to-work and DBS checks) are satisfied, because resigning on a verbal promise is risky. If your new role needs a right-to-work check or background screening, factor that timing in. Keep the tone gracious regardless of how you feel about the job — offer to help hand over your work, and don't badmouth the employer on the way out. A clean exit protects the reference that your next employer will almost certainly request, and it keeps doors open in what can be a surprisingly small industry.
Gardening leave, pay in lieu and leaving early
Several common situations sit around the standard notice period, and knowing the terms helps you handle them. Gardening leave is when your employer tells you to stay away from work during your notice while remaining employed and paid — common when you're moving to a competitor and they don't want you near sensitive information. Payment in lieu of notice (PILON) is when, if your contract allows it, the employer pays you for the notice period instead of having you work it, ending the employment immediately. Leaving early — asking to go before your notice is up — is possible but only by agreement: you can request a shorter notice and many employers will agree, especially if a handover is sorted, but they're not obliged to, and walking out without agreement can breach your contract and risk your reference. If a new employer is pushing for an early start, the honest move is to ask your current employer whether they'll release you early or accept PILON; many will. You'll also keep accruing holiday during notice, and any untaken holiday is typically paid out or used up during the period — worth confirming with HR.
Negotiating your start date with a new employer
Once you understand your notice, you can manage the new employer's expectations confidently. When an offer comes, state your notice period clearly and early — "I'd love to accept; my current notice is one month, so my earliest start would be around the [date]." Reasonable employers expect this; a three-month notice for a senior role is normal and rarely a problem. If they need you sooner, that's the moment to explore early release or PILON with your current employer, but never promise a start date you can't legally hit. Bear in mind the notice period interacts with other parts of starting a job: your new role may itself carry a probation period, and if you're moving via an agency the dynamics differ — our guide to temp agencies explains how notice works in agency and temporary arrangements, which can be much shorter. Handle the start-date conversation honestly and you protect both relationships: you start the new job on solid footing and leave the old one with your reference intact. Rushing it — overpromising, or trying to dodge your notice — is the fastest way to start a new job already on the back foot.
FAQ
- What is the minimum notice period in the UK?
- Once you've worked somewhere for a month or more, the statutory minimum notice you must give is one week. However, your employment contract usually specifies a longer period — commonly one month, or two-to-three months for senior and many public-sector roles — and you're bound by whichever is longer. Always check your contract first.
- Can I leave a job before my notice period ends?
- Only by agreement with your employer. You can ask to leave early and many employers will agree, especially if your handover is sorted, but they're not obliged to. Leaving without agreement can breach your contract and risk your reference, so it's best to negotiate — your employer may also offer payment in lieu of notice (PILON).
- When should I hand in my notice for a new job?
- Only after your new offer is confirmed in writing and any conditions — references, right-to-work and any DBS checks — are satisfied. Resigning on a verbal promise is risky. Resign in writing, state your notice period, and count your last working day from the day you hand it in.
- Do I get paid during my notice period?
- Yes. You're paid as normal while working your notice, and you keep accruing holiday. If your employer puts you on gardening leave you stay paid while away from work, and if they use payment in lieu of notice (PILON) they pay you for the notice instead of having you work it. Untaken holiday is usually paid out or used during the period.
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