[dave4420]

Pretty sure they can sue in theory. Don’t think most employers bother. But would rather not burn my bridges.

(I’m in the UK, laws may be different in your jurisdiction, etc.)

Edit: https://uk.adp.com/resources/adp-articles-and-insights/artic... says that

> Employers can take legal action if an employee breaches their notice period by leaving without providing the required notice period. They might pursue a claim for breach of contract, seeking damages for the cost of hiring temporary contractor replacements or loss incurred by a sudden departure.

[jjice]

Ah yes, thank you - I'm in the US. Wow I just assumed other Western countries had the same situation with leaving employment as the US. Interesting to know.

Do they have to also abide by this to their employees? Or are those just not in the contracts?

[dave4420]

Yeah, it goes both ways. There are exceptions for gross misconduct, but apart from that, if you’re on, say, a month’s notice, then

- you have to give them a month’s notice if you want to stop working for them

- they have to give you a month’s notice if they don’t want you to work for them anymore

Sometimes, instead of giving you notice, they’ll pay you what you would have earned during your notice period to have you leave immediately. (“Payment in lieu of notice”) I think the idea there is that they don’t want people hanging around if the company has decided to get rid of them.

Also: sometimes when you hand in your notice, your old employer will let you go sooner (so you can start your new job sooner). It depends how badly they need you for your notice period, and whether actually they could use the cash from your salary to do something else instead.