Will I be suied if I walk out without giving notice?

[Scrambledbrains]

I started as a receptionist in a law firm on Monday and I really hate it. They are very demanding and I hate the environment and don't want to be there. My contract says I am suppose to give a week's notice for this probationary period, if I call and hand in my notice with immediate effect what are the chances that they will sue me, and if they did what would happen?

I think in that case, yes, go in tomorrow, explain, say you're terribly sorry and feel awful for letting them down but that it's in neither of your interests that you stay. Just don't walk out without an explanation. Good luck.

I am not an expert on it, but if you have worked for less than 1 month, then have a look at the following which seem to imply that some of the normal notice periods do not necessarily apply

www.compactlaw.co.uk/free-legal-information/employment-law/notice-periods.html

uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090810032006AAicqrI

www.gov.uk/handing-in-your-notice-resigning-leaving-job

this is the answer to a question on mimimum notice period from the ACAS website

"How much notice should an employee give to resign from their employment?

In the first month of employment there is no statutory requirement to give notice (however, there may be a contractual requirement, in which case the employee should comply with the contract). Once the employee has been employed for over a month, the statutory minimum notice the employee should give is one week, however long they have been employed.

If there is a longer notice period specified in the employee's contract, then they must give this longer period. Failure to do so could amount to a breach of contract on the employee's part.

Even if there is no reference to notice in the employee's contract, or the employee does not have a written contract, it may be reasonable for the employee to give more notice than the statutory minimum.

The one exception to this is where an employee resigns because of a constructive dismissal."

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4663

ACAS also have a free helpline

"Get free advice about handing in your notice and pay rights from the Acas Helpline.

Acas Helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 1100
Text relay: 18001 0845 747 47 47
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday, 9am to 1pm"

www.gov.uk/handing-in-your-notice-resigning-leaving-job

Just leave if it's that bad. I can't stand all this corporate slavery BS "oh word will get around that you are unreliable" and thinking you have to suffer anxiety to kiss corporate ass for no money and be treated badly.

So long as it's not something you do at every job, just go to the manager say "sorry it's not working. I won't be coming back" it's highly unlikely they will pursue you.

Dignity and mental health is more impotant than that.

They won't sue you. End of.