Leaving a job in Northern Ireland: your rights

For the money if you are made redundant, see redundancy pay.

Notice

If you have worked for your employer for one month or more, the legal minimum amount of notice you must give is one week. Your employer must give you at least one week's notice, or one week for each complete year (up to a maximum of 12) if you've been continuously employed for two or more years. Your contract can give longer notice.

Pay during your notice

If you’re leaving your job, you will normally have the right to your normal pay and benefits, such as a company car, as set out in your contract of employment, during your notice period.

Temporary lay-offs

If your employer doesn't have enough work for you, they may tell you to stay at home. If you are off work for at least one complete working day, this is a lay-off. If you're not an employee, for example a temp, you don't have a right to paid work and so you can't be laid off. After a long lay-off you may be able to claim redundancy pay.

Redundancy selection

If a method for deciding redundancies has been agreed with a trade union, your employer should follow it. It is up to your employer which reasons they use, as long as they can show that they are fair, for example appraisal markings, skills, qualifications and experience.

Resigning

Make it clear to your employer that you're formally resigning; putting it in writing is best. As long as you have given notice in line with the terms of your contract, your employer must accept your resignation. You will get your final pay on your normal pay day unless your contract says differently.

Unfair dismissal

A dismissal can be unfair if your employer did not follow the correct process, for example the statutory minimum dismissal procedure. You normally need at least a year's service to claim. See problems at work.

Common questions

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