There comes a time while working you decide to quit the job for better opportunities. During that time, it’s always better to provide notice before leaving. It shows professionalism, and the employer also gets time to hire someone at your position. Also, providing a notice period giving you time to complete your pending work. Providing a notice while leaving a job is a necessary process of quitting a job. Let’s get into the topic of what is the notice period?
What is the Notice Period?
A notice period is a time in the middle of the employee’s resignation to his actual dismissal. The period begins once the employee hand over the resignation letter and ends when he leaves the company. The notice period is the time, an employee has to give to the employer from the time he decides to quit till actually stop working. When you choose to leave a job, it is necessary to provide the company some time to prepare for your departure.
Why is it necessary?
The process of hiring is lengthy and takes time. When you choose to quit a job, the employer needs to fill up your position. So when you give the notice period, it provides time for the Human Resources department to look for other candidates. Also, if the position is specialized, then it takes extra time. Here are few reasons why the notice period is necessary:
- Maintain Positive Relationship at Workplace:
While leaving the job, have a positive relationship within the company. It will help you to get a recommendation letter so that you can apply for other jobs. It is possible by showing professionalism and giving a notice period.
- Company Can Find a Replacement:
When you decide to leave the job, the company tries to hire someone else for the position. If you provide a notice period to the employer, it gives them time to search for an apt candidate to take up the job. It helps the company to continue its workflow.
- Terms and Conditions of Company:
When you signed the contract of the company, the terms and conditions stated that, while leaving a job, a notice period is required. In this position, you need to give a notice period before quitting the job. The agreement has power till the time you are part of the company.
How Long Does a Notice Period be?
The usual notice period length is of two weeks. But sometimes, the position of the employee will decide the time of the notice period. The team requires to fill your position to carry out the duties. If you are an executive, then you must provide the notice one month before quitting the team. If the post is of supervisor or head of the company, then you will have to give more than two weeks notice period. The employee must complete all the pending tasks before quitting, so keep that in mind while providing the notice. The period may not be enough to finish the ongoing assignment. Below are some key points:
- If you are working for a month or less, then notice is not required.
- If you have worked with the company for two years, then you must provide a one-week notice.
- If you have been employed, by the company for more than 12 years, then the notice must be given, for 12 weeks.
How to Submit the Notice:
After writing the notice, the part comes how to submit it. The employee must follow proper procedure while submitting the notice. Here are some of the steps the employee can follow:
- Determine the final day of employment:
While giving the notice, determine the last day of your employment. Make sure to provide two weeks’ notice before leaving. Also, make sure to complete the pending task before quitting the job. If you have got any other job offer to ask the company to set a date. Be sure about leaving and taking time off before joining a new firm.
- Inform your Supervisors:
Always give the notice in person. Before submitting the resignation letter, make sure to inform your supervisors. Tell them personally about you leaving the company. Details are not required, just essential information. Inform them about your final date, which is an important part.
- Put in Writing:
A professional way of quitting the job is to put it in writing. Writing a resignation letter to the employer will help them find another employee for the position, within the period. Also, a written copy could be stored, with your file for reference. The format of the resignation letter is similar to a business letter. The letter includes:
- Contact Information: This includes your name, address, email, job title, and contact number.
- Date: A date is essential so that the employee can remember when you submitted the final letter.
- The Statement of Resignation: This section will include the last date of employment. You can also state your reason for quitting the company. Here you can also share your feedback with the manager. Be careful with your words.
- Line of Gratitude: Express your gratitude for the job and for giving you the opportunity in two lines. You can even share a good luck message to your team and how much you will miss them.
- Signature: At the end, with the closer, type your name and physically sing the letter.
- Tell the Team:
Once you resign, it’s time to tell your team. You can inform them personally, those who are close to you. Otherwise, you can send a company email and let them know about your leaving.
Template of Notice Period:
- Applicant’s Details:
Includes: Name, Address, Email, and Pin Code.
- Date:
Format: DD/MM/YYYY.
- Recipient’s information:
Includes: Name, Company’s Name, Address, City, and Pin Code.
- Salutation:
Respected, Sir/Madam
- Main Body:
Paragraph 1: Duration of the notice period along with the reason for resignation.
Paragraph 2: Your experience in the firm also shows gratefulness.
- Closing salutation:
Thankfully/Sincerely
- Applicant’s Signature
- Applicant’s Name
Can an employee not work during the notice period?
There is a rule that when an employee provides the notice, he has to work for the notice period. The employee needs to complete his work before quitting the company. But rather than working, an employee may be asked to leave during the period, offered PILON, or get garden leave. Let’s get in the details:
- Leave during the notice period:
The employee needs permission to leave before the notice period ends. If the employer provides a written agreement, then it can be possible. If the employee leaves before it, then the employer will pay him for the time he has worked with the company.
- Payment in lieu of notice (PILON):
The employee’s contractor has a clause that allows him to get paid rather than working for the notice. The payment in lieu notice allows the employee to stop working once they have given the resignation. The employer pays its employee full payment for the notice period. When the employee gives the resignation along with payment in lieu notice and receives the payment the contract with the company ends straight away.
- Garden Leave:
Garden leave is when the employer asks the employee not to work during their notice period. The reason behind this could be to maintain secrecy about a specific project. The employee is paid, as per the notice period, along with benefits. Even though the employee is not working and is on garden leave, he is still an employee by the company.
Types:
It is of two types for the employees depending on their period of work for the company. The types are explained in detail below:
- Statutory Notice:
A statutory notice is a minimum legal type of notice that an employer gives to the employee. If the employment period of an employee is less than two years, but enough for one month, then they will get one week’s notice. Whereas, if an employee is working for two or more continuous years, then they will get two weeks’ notice and an additional one week for each employed year. So if an employee, is in the business for five continuous years, then he gets a five weeks’ notice.
- Contractual Notice:
A contractual notice is the type of notice which, is set out in the company’s contract. It means the terms and conditions of the company will have a notice period. An employer gives one weeks’ notice, but this can change based on employment and employee.
Behavior:
When resigning from the job, the employee has to work during the notice period. Once you give the resignation, the notice period begins. It is necessary to behave professionally, whether you are leaving the company. You are still an employee of the company and serving the time of notice will also maintain your reputation.
Here is how your behavior should be while serving the notice period:
- Be Productive: Before leaving the company, you have specific projects under your hand, and completing them is your responsibility. So be productive during the notice period. Try and finish as many assignments as you can before leaving. You may have enough time during the notice period to use that wisely to help other team members.
- Stay Positive: While serving your notice period, avoid unnecessary conversation and gossip. Complaining about the company and boss could lower the morale of other employees still working in the company. Stay positive and spread yourself with good memories you had with the organization. Also, thank every person who was a part of your life during the job.
- Remain Diplomatic: When you leave an organization, they might ask you to provide feedback. It is time to leave things unsaid.
- Action Matters: The employee needs a recommendation for other jobs. But to gain this, the employee must right the wrongs. If he is misunderstood, by the company, this is the time to fix things. Maintain the moral high ground.
- Don’t Take Change Personally: There might be a change in the working environment. The team will not include you in their decisions. That is completely fine because your new job could be their competitor. This change will happen, but don’t take it personally. So have a positive attitude during your notice period.
Determining the Length:
The length of your notice period depends on various factors. It could be the position of the job, the period of employment, and many others. Here are the factors determining the span of the notice period:
- Contract of the company: When you sign the contract of the company, it includes the resignation period details. So look for that while submitting the notice period.
- Position of work: The Company needs to hire other employees in your position. If you work at a higher level, then you need to give the notice before one week. It gives the HR department time to look for other candidates.
- Period of work: The time of your joining also determines the period of notice. If you are an old employee and have worked continuously for the company, then you should submit the notice for at least two weeks.
- Type of Project: The kind of project also decides the span of that time. If you are working on something huge and don’t have enough time to train the new employee. Then you can resign after completing the project.
Conclusion:
A notice period is a time between the employee’s resignation till his termination. It is necessary to give it before quitting the company. This way company gets a chance to look for other candidates. Also, your professionalism is determined, through the serving time of this. The employer has to pay the person till their last day of the job. Although, they might not ask to work throughout the period.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Do you get your salary during the notice period?
Answer: Although you are quitting the job, serving a notice period is necessary. Also, the employer has to pay the employee during the notice period. The employee is still employed, by the company and receives all the benefits along with salary till his last day of employment.
- Can an employee take sick leave during the notice period?
Answer: The employee is eligible to take two or three day’s sick leave, during their notice period. But according to the company policy, the employee is requested to submit a medical certificate. A genuine leave: like a health issue, maternity leave, is provided to the employee during their notice period.
