How long is the notice when you resign?
It depends on your seniority on the day the notice starts. The SPF Employment table gives, for a resignation:
- Less than 3 months: 1 week
- 3 to less than 6 months: 2 weeks
- 6 to less than 12 months: 3 weeks
- 12 to less than 18 months: 4 weeks
- 18 to less than 24 months: 5 weeks
- 2 to less than 4 years: 6 weeks
- 4 years: 7 weeks. 5 years: 9 weeks. 6 years: 10 weeks. 7 years: 12 weeks
- 8 years or more: 13 weeks, the maximum
The same table applies to blue-collar and white-collar workers, and since 28 October 2023 it applies whatever the date your contract started.
What changed for contracts starting from August 2026?
For contracts whose work started from 1 August 2026, the notice is 1 week during the whole first six months, instead of 1 or 2 weeks. From six months on, nothing changes. The rule comes from the law of 3 June 2026, as Securex summarises.
So if you joined a company in September 2026 and the role is not what you expected, leaving costs you one week, not more. The same short notice applies if your employer ends the contract. The full employer table is in how to calculate your notice period.
Why is a resignation notice so much shorter than a dismissal notice?
Because the law treats the two situations differently. An employer’s notice protects you while you look for work, so it grows with your seniority without a 13-week ceiling. Yours protects the employer while it replaces you, and three months is considered enough.
The gap matters in negotiations. After 10 years, you owe 13 weeks if you resign, while your employer would owe 33 if it dismissed you. A counter-offer does not change your notice either: once validly given, a resignation cannot be withdrawn without your employer’s agreement.
Can you leave before the end of your notice?
Yes, in two ways. You can agree a shorter notice or an earlier end date with your employer at any time, which is the usual route when a new employer wants you sooner. Or you can leave without working the rest of your notice and pay your employer an indemnity for the weeks you skip, as the SPF Employment explains.
The options are compared in whether you can shorten your notice period. Before resigning, check the date your notice actually starts, and whether you have a non-compete clause. Then set a realistic start date with your next employer, for instance one of the IT and engineering roles currently open.
