The notice period is like a mystery box; you never know what is about to pop up. Well, when an employee/individual is in a notice period, then there are many doubts and queries that come to mind. But most of the time, we don’t get the answers we were looking for😔.
Well, I would like to state that you are at the right place because, in this post, we are going to resolve all your doubts while you are in your notice period.
But first, we have to understand what is a notice period, both from an employee and HR (Human Resources) perspective.
What is a Notice Period?
There’s a time in every employee’s life when they want to change their current organization. This can be due to several reasons, like better opportunities, improper salary benchmarking, new roles, new places, and many more. But you just can’t leave an organization in a day.
Before joining any organization, there’s a pact that is signed between an employee and the employer. According to that, when the employee wishes to leave the company, they have to spend some extra days/months (which is mutually decided) before leaving.
Those extra days are called the notice period. And the counting starts from the day you put your resignation letter.
PS: If you are not sure how to draft that resignation letter, try these AI writing generators for inspiration!
Notice Period from an Employee’s Perspective
As an employee, suppose you have a better opportunity in some other organization. But you have to spend 30 days (for example) as your notice period in your current firm. So, what should be your approach or perspective?
First and most importantly, finish all the important projects/tasks that have been allotted to you. Secondly, make sure to take all the required documents that have been committed to you before joining the company. These documents are an experience certificate, project certificate, recommendation letter, and many more.
Another important thing is to prepare yourself for a new role in your upcoming organization. Start doing your research and study about the upcoming role and responsibilities.
I personally believe that you should also research the culture and working environment of your new company. Going into a new working ecosystem is always challenging, so it’s better you be prepared.
Thus, instead of the notice period, adding a speed breaker to your plans, you can use it as much-needed time to gather your resources, achievements, and accolades while leaving your current employer on a good note!
💡Tip: Do connect with your upcoming colleagues to know about the culture during your notice period.
Notice Period from the HR Perspective
When an employee applies for a notice period, the HR department becomes active. Depending on the role and responsibilities of the employee, they have to look for a potential replacement.
The higher the role, the more challenging it becomes to find a good replacement, which is why proper employee value proposition is so important. In some instances, you (an employee) might get some counter-offer from your current company. This could be a form of employee recognition like a raise or promotion.
Depending on your importance, the HR team will try to keep you in the organization. It may give you a lot of liberty of negotiation. But if the person wants to leave the company, then the HR team will hunt for a new person for that role and ask for employee referrals.
Then, the whole hiring process starts. This takes a lot of time, but they have to get someone aboard before you leave so that they can understand the work where you have left it.
Also read: Still looking for that perfect job? Get rid of the nerves with these AI-powered interview preparation platforms!
Well, depending on the role, the notice period may vary. So, let’s take a look at some common queries:
Notice Pay FAQs
There’s a simple mantra: the higher the role, the longer the notice period. However, this can vary. Before joining a company, make sure to go through and discuss all the terms and conditions with the hiring manager.
Especially the notice period, because a notice period could be 15 days ranging up to 90 days. If you’re a probationary/part-time employee, your notice period is usually shorter than if you’re a permanent employee.
Moreover, the notice period varies from industry to industry. If you are from the IT industry, then you can expect a notice period of up to 90 days.
💡Tip: Before joining a new organization, make sure to do your research on the notice period. Lastly, make sure to discuss it with your hiring manager.
This is the most common query that comes up. Let me tell you, it is not as easy as it sounds. This is because it’s not that easy to let go of a potential employee, so that you might face some challenging questions. It could be either from your boss or your hiring manager.
So, what should be the right approach to submitting notice to your employer? Follow these steps:
Step 1: Make a plan and curate an email
Yeah, you make a plan and write an email using a good template or format. Plan in advance when will be your last date. How will you tell your fellow colleagues about it? What are your future plans? These are very simple questions, but quite hard to give a convincing answer.
So it’s better you plan it in advance because, come on! No one wants to leave an organization giving a bad/confusing impression.
Step 2: Schedule a meeting with your Boss/HR
It’s better to have a direct approach toward your boss and HR to discuss your resignation rather than talking by email. Be open with your thoughts and be respectful towards the company’s contribution to your growth/success.
Step 3: Offer your help in the transition process.
As the company starts looking for your replacement. Make sure to step up and assist them in taking interviews/training a new candidate.
Not only you will put your final contributions toward the company. Moreover, you can easily present the work that you are leaving behind for the other person to take over.
Step 4: Wrap up your work and wave goodbye
Utilize the notice period to finish your incomplete tasks, and when the day comes, make sure to address every major and minor contribution. It’s always emotional to leave a place where you have been working for so long.
So do end it with a positive note. I remember my last day in my previous firm; my last lines were, “Remember guys! Goodbyes are not forever.”
Why am I getting emotional while writing this article😢?
Well, this is one of the debatable topics. However, the answer is “yes” and “no”. Let me explain, “Yes,” they can deny a notice period. But, if you have given the resignation letter, then you have already presented your wish that you no longer want to work with them. So once you complete your notice period, you don’t need to show up to work.
However, in some cases, if you want to leave the company immediately without serving the notice period. Then the employer can deny your notice period, and moreover, there can be some legal actions too.
The consequences may vary according to the conditions in the contract that has been signed between you and the company before joining the organization.
💡Tip: Make sure to discuss all the things before joining an organization, including the consequences of not serving the notice period.
Well, there are many types of notice periods. However, two of the most common are statutory and contractual notice periods. So let’s take a look at:
Statutory Notice Period
Organizations must provide notice before terminating an employee’s employment under the terms of the contract. The length of the notice period varies depending on how long the employee has been employed by the company, for example, one week for a year, two weeks for a second year, and so on.
Contractual Notice Period
This is the amount of notice that is specified in the employment contract. The duration cannot be shortened and is longer than a statutory notice period. Depending on the contract, both the employer and the employee may be required to give different lengths of notice.
This is another interesting/common query. So, in theory, yes, you can take holidays during the notice period.
Yet, again, everything comes down to the terms of the contract.
Furthermore, an employee may ask to use their remaining statutory yearly leave. However, the duration of the holiday may be decided based on the days you have left in the company.
Curious whether the grass is greener on the other side? Well, here are some typical notice period durations across countries to keep you in the know.
United States of America (USA) :
Good for the people in the United States. The notice period here is shorter as compared to other countries. The notice period here can range from 2 weeks to 4 weeks (15-30 days).
But yeah, the higher the post, the longer the notice.
United Kingdom (UK):
Here, in the UK, the notice period is generally longer than in the USA. Here, notice period can range from 1 to 3 months.
Australia:
Just like the USA, Australia has a similar notice period of 2-4 weeks.
European Union (EU):
The notice period may vary from country to country according to their respective labor laws. However, the range is the same as the UK, of 1 to 3 months.
Singapore:
Singapore is known for its strict and disciplined work culture. Here, the notice period is on the longer side, ranging from 1 to 3 months.
India:
In India, the notice period can range from 1 to 3 months.
Keep this thing in mind that the above numbers are just average notice periods, as we have already discussed that there are several factors that affect the duration of a notice.
Pay/Payment in lieu of notice permits an individual’s employment to be terminated instantly without the requirement for them to finish or work their notice period. Instead, the organization compensates the departing employee for what they would have earned if they put in their full notice period.
Well, this must be a new term for most of the people. When an employee takes a “garden leave,” they are either working remotely or staying away from the office for the duration of the notice period.
The individual is still on the payroll and is in the process of leaving their job, but they are not allowed to report to work or start any other jobs while they are on garden leave.
In a nutshell, you need not come to the office; you can work remotely, and you’ll get paid!
Also read: Searching for a job and tired of writing those cover letters? Let AI do the job for you with these AI Cover Letter Generators to simplify your job application process!
Author’s Note
I hope the post gave you insights about notice periods and that I’m successful in clearing all your doubts.
While many employees complain time drags during the notice period due to the excitement of joining a new firm, it makes sense to enjoy your last days with your current employer and tie up all the loose ends.
Next up, check these: Employee Data and Statistics to Understand Employment Trends