No contract or cond. of employment, do you have to give notice?

M

Margie

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If a person has no contract or conditions of employment, are they obliged to give notice.While I realise it is manners and proper etiquette to give notice, if a person was offered a job with immediate effect what would the situation be?Could you be denied a reference?
 
Generally, in these cases, notice is equal to the pay period - e.g., if paid weekly, one week notice.

Not sure if this is any more than convention though.

There is employment law to be observed even in the absence of any formal agreement - but whatever, common sense should prevail as anyone can give you a bad reference if they feel sufficiently aggrieved.
 
ok so if one leaves the job today to start the other on Monday coming, what is the worst case scenario?
 
I would have thought at the very least a bad reference and even general vindictiveness, sabotage - who knows?
 
Margie said:
ok so if one leaves the job today to start the other on Monday coming, what is the worst case scenario?
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You are dependent on them sending out a P45 and they may not do this quickly if you have not worked notice.
 
The worst that can happen is that sometime in the future you may apply for another job and your prospective employers will want a reference from your current employers (as they are the 2nd most recent). If possible, don't burn your bridges and try to leave on good terms. It depends on how long you've been in the job, though. You could just leave it off your CV in future if it's only been for a short period. The fact that you have no contract etc suggests to me that you do not owe them much courtesy.

As far as I know an employer can refuse to give a reference, but can't give a bad reference as it is defamation of character. Of course, a refusal to give a reference equals a bad reference.
 
Maread said:
As far as I know an employer ... can't give a bad reference
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I don't see why not as long as it's all true?

Anyway, a very non-committal, scantily worded reference might as well be a bad one.
 
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