Pay & tax
Notice Periods Explained: Your UK Rights
How much notice you must give or receive in the UK — statutory minimums by length of service, contractual notice, PILON and garden leave.
Updated July 2026 · 8 min read
General information only — not financial, legal or tax advice. Rates and rules change; check GOV.UK or official resources before making decisions.
Key takeaways
- After one month's service, you must usually give at least one week's notice when you resign — your contract often requires more.
- Your employer must give at least one week's notice after one month, then one week per full year of service from two years, up to 12 weeks.
- If the contract notice is longer than the statutory minimum, the longer period usually applies.
- Payment in lieu of notice (PILON) and garden leave are common alternatives to working the full notice — check your contract.
- Use the Notice Period Calculator to compare statutory minimums with your contract weeks.
How much notice do I have to give when I resign?
Once you have worked for your employer for one month or more, the legal minimum you must give is one week's notice. That is the statutory floor for employees resigning — it does not rise with longer service.
Most contracts ask for more: two weeks, one month, or three months in senior roles. You should give the longer of the statutory minimum and your contractual notice. Leaving earlier without agreement can be a breach of contract.
How much notice must my employer give me?
Employer notice is stricter and scales with continuous service. After one month they must give at least one week. From two full years onwards they must give one week per complete year, capped at 12 weeks.
So five full years means at least five weeks from your employer; twelve or more years means the 12-week maximum. Your contract can still require a longer period for either side.
| Continuous service | Statutory notice from employer |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | None (check contract / probation) |
| 1 month to under 2 years | 1 week |
| 2 full years | 2 weeks |
| 5 full years | 5 weeks |
| 10 full years | 10 weeks |
| 12+ full years | 12 weeks (maximum) |
What if my contract notice is longer?
Contractual notice overrides the statutory minimum when it is longer. A one-month contract clause beats one week's statutory notice if you resign. A three-month clause for a senior role beats five weeks' statutory notice after five years' service.
Our Notice Period Calculator takes years worked and your contract weeks, then shows the statutory figure and the recommended notice — whichever is higher. Always keep a copy of the signed terms.
Do I get notice during probation?
In the first month there is usually no statutory minimum notice either way. Many probation clauses set a short period — for example one week each way — which you should follow if it is in writing.
After one month, statutory rules kick in even if you are still in probation, unless a lawful shorter arrangement applies. Check the exact wording before you resign or if you are dismissed early.
What is payment in lieu of notice (PILON)?
PILON means your employer pays you for the notice period instead of having you work it. Your employment usually ends on the payment date. Whether PILON is allowed depends on the contract or a separate agreement.
PILON is normally taxable as earnings. It is different from redundancy pay — you can receive both if you are made redundant. Use the Redundancy Calculator for statutory redundancy estimates and ask HR for a written breakdown of notice pay versus redundancy.
What is garden leave?
Garden leave means you remain employed and paid during notice but stay away from the workplace — often used to protect clients or confidential information. You typically cannot start the new job until garden leave ends.
You still accrue holiday and keep contractual benefits unless the contract says otherwise. Confirm in writing when your last day of employment is and whether unused holiday will be paid.
What about holiday pay during notice?
You can often take accrued holiday during your notice period if your employer agrees, or they may require you to use it. Any statutory holiday accrued but unused when you leave is usually paid in your final wages.
See Holiday Pay Explained and the Holiday Pay Calculator for how 5.6 weeks' entitlement works. Final payslips should show notice pay, holiday pay and any deductions clearly.
Check your notice period
Enter your years of service and contract notice weeks into the Notice Period Calculator to see the statutory minimum and the longer recommended period. If you face redundancy, pair it with the Redundancy Calculator.
Estimates only — your written contract and GOV.UK / ACAS guidance decide the exact position. If notice looks wrong, raise it with HR in writing before your end date.
Frequently asked questions
- How much notice do I have to give my employer in the UK?
- After one month's service the statutory minimum is one week. Your contract often requires longer — commonly one month. Give the longer of the two unless you and your employer agree otherwise.
- How much notice must my employer give me?
- At least one week after one month's service. From two full years, one week per complete year of service, up to a maximum of 12 weeks. The contract can require more.
- Does notice increase the longer I work?
- For employers dismissing you, yes — up to 12 weeks. For you resigning, the statutory minimum stays at one week; only a longer contract clause increases what you must give.
- Can I leave without working my notice?
- Only if your employer agrees, or if they pay you in lieu of notice. Walking out early without agreement can be a breach of contract and may affect references or outstanding pay negotiations.
- What is the difference between PILON and garden leave?
- PILON ends employment early and pays you for the notice instead of working it. Garden leave keeps you employed and paid but away from work until the notice end date.
- Is notice pay taxable?
- Yes. Notice pay and most PILON are treated as earnings and go through PAYE like normal wages. Statutory redundancy pay has separate tax rules — check your final settlement breakdown.
Try the calculator
Put this into numbers with our free UK calculators.
Need free help? See our useful UK resources including MoneyHelper and StepChange.