Is there a standard notice period?

[grendel]

I have worked for a very small company for nearly 4 years. I was their first employee and everything was very informal when I started - I don't have a written contract, only the offer letter which covered duties, hours, salary and holiday.

I am now desperately unhappy and have to leave before I have some kind of breakdown. Does anyone know if there is a statutory minimum notice period that I need to give? I am paid monthly.

I think it's normally 4 weeks, but not sure if that's law or just convention.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10026689

Says it's only 1 week!!

1 week per year up to max of 12 weeks. I would suggest 4 is appropriate. However, they may not enforce this.

Mumof2, I think that's the notice the employer has to give not the other way around? Thats what the link seems to show anyway.

Thanks for the link Bubbaluv.

Looks like if push came to shove I really could just give them one week's notice. Not that that would make them likely to give me a good reference though.

Also useful information on the website about loss of up to 26 week's jobseeker's allowance if I give up my job without good reason. Hmmm...

Surely something is happeneing to make you desperately unhappy and that would be a "reason"?

I think it is to do with how often you're paid - if you're paid monthly you should give a month's notice (or 4 weeks), if you're paid weekly you can only give 1 week.

It's one week as bubbaluv's link says, if there is no contractual requirement to give more.

Don't burn bridges if you don't have to though.
Is it really to much to cope with until you can secure a new job to go to? You are much more employable when you are already employed.