Notice Period UK: The Rules and Five Notice Letters
By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published · Updated
8 min read
Your notice period in the UK is whatever your contract says, but never less than the statutory floor, and the two are often different numbers. Resigning, the floor is one week once you have been employed for more than a month. If your employer ends it, the floor rises with your service to a ceiling of twelve weeks. Both figures sit in section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Five complete letters follow, checked in September 2026, plus the rules table, redundancy and sickness, and what not to put in writing. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.
If you do not know your own notice period, ask in writing before you resign. This letter does that in five lines.
Email asking HR to confirm your notice period, before resigning (84 words)
Subject: Notice period confirmation, Aisha Rahman, Payroll Administrator
Dear Ms Fenwick,
Could you confirm the notice period that applies to my contract as Payroll Administrator, and the date my continuous service started.
I would also like to know whether the contract requires notice in writing, and whether accrued holiday can be taken during a notice period or is paid instead.
This is for my own planning and I am not giving notice with this email.
Thank you,
Aisha Rahman Payroll Administrator 07700 900 173
The statutory floor, in the Act's own words
Section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 sets two ladders. The notice your employer must give "is not less than one week's notice if his period of continuous employment is less than two years", then "not less than one week's notice for each year of continuous employment" up to twelve years, and "not less than twelve weeks' notice" after that.
The notice you must give is flatter: "not less than one week" once you have been continuously employed for one month or more. Gov.uk says the same thing as "You must give at least a week's notice if you've been in your job for more than a month."
Contracts can require more, and most do. They cannot require less, because any provision for shorter notice "has effect subject to" those minimums, though either party may waive notice or accept a payment in lieu.
| Situation | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You resign, employed over one month | At least one week, or your contract's longer period | ERA 1996, s.86(2) |
| Employer dismisses, under 2 years' service | At least one week | ERA 1996, s.86(1) |
| Employer dismisses, 2 to 12 years | One week per complete year of service | ERA 1996, s.86(1) |
| Employer dismisses, 12 years or more | Twelve weeks, the statutory ceiling | ERA 1996, s.86(1) |
| When the clock starts | "Your notice period usually runs from the start of the day after you handed your notice in" | gov.uk, giving notice |
| Notice given by letter | If given in writing, notice starts "when the employee has had a reasonable amount of time to read it" | Acas, when the notice period starts |
| Pay during notice | "You'll usually get your normal pay rate", and bonuses and commission are due "unless your contract states otherwise" | gov.uk, payment during notice |
| Payment in lieu | Only "if it's in your contract or you agree to it". Otherwise "you can work out your notice period" | gov.uk, payment during notice |
| Redundancy notice pay | "Based on the average you earned per week over the 12 weeks before your notice period starts" | gov.uk, redundancy notice periods |
| Not giving enough notice | "You may be in breach of your contract", and your employer "could take you to court" | gov.uk, giving notice |
Acas adds a detail worth knowing if notice reaches you while you are away: if an employee "is on holiday and is only told by letter, their notice period might start after they have returned home and had time to read it".
Resigning on the statutory minimum
If you have been in the job a few months and your contract is silent, one week is the floor. Keep the letter to the facts.
Resignation giving one week's statutory notice, short service (75 words)
14 September 2026
Dear Mr Achebe,
I am writing to resign from my position as Warehouse Operative at Kesgrave Logistics Ltd.
My contract does not specify a notice period, so I am giving the statutory minimum of one week. My last working day will therefore be Monday 21 September 2026.
I will return my scanner and locker key on my final shift and complete the current pick cycle.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Whelan 07700 900 118
Agreeing payment in lieu of notice
A payment in lieu of notice, or PILON, ends your employment immediately and pays you for the notice you did not work. It is lawful only if your contract allows it or you agree to it, so put your agreement in writing and name the figures you expect.
Letter agreeing payment in lieu of notice, two months (106 words)
14 September 2026
Dear Ms Fenwick,
Thank you for your letter of 12 September offering a payment in lieu of my two-month notice period.
I agree to end my employment on Friday 18 September 2026 on that basis. My understanding is that the payment covers my normal pay for the two months to 13 November 2026, plus the 11 days of accrued holiday shown on my August payslip, and that contractual pension contributions continue over the notice period.
Please confirm those three figures in writing before the payment is made, and confirm the date my P45 will be issued.
Yours sincerely,
Aisha Rahman 07700 900 173
On garden leave
Your employer can tell you to stay away during notice. Gov.uk confirms the pay position: on garden leave "you'll get the same pay and contractual benefits". Confirm the terms in writing, because you are still employed and still bound by the contract.
Letter confirming garden leave terms during notice (87 words)
14 September 2026
Dear Geoff,
Thank you for confirming that I will be on garden leave from Monday 21 September 2026 until my leaving date of Friday 12 December 2026.
To record my understanding: I remain employed until 12 December on full pay and contractual benefits, I will not attend site or contact clients, and I will keep my laptop until the final week for the handover notes we agreed.
Please tell me if you need anything further before Monday.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel Osei 07700 900 156
Querying notice you have been given
If your employer gives you shorter notice than the Act requires, say so in writing and quote the section. Most cases are a payroll error rather than a fight.
Letter querying short notice on dismissal, nine years' service (115 words)
14 September 2026
Dear Ms Hollis,
Thank you for your letter of 12 September ending my employment as Senior Technician with effect from 26 September 2026.
My continuous service began on 14 August 2017, which is nine complete years. Under section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, the minimum notice due to me is one week for each complete year, so nine weeks rather than the two weeks in your letter.
I would be grateful if you would either extend the notice period to 28 November 2026 or confirm a payment in lieu for the remaining seven weeks.
I would like to resolve this without a grievance.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel Osei 07700 900 156
Redundancy, sickness and changing your mind
On redundancy you get statutory notice or contractual notice, whichever is longer, and gov.uk repeats the ladder: "at least one week's notice if employed between one month and 2 years", "one week's notice for each year if employed between 2 and 12 years", and "12 weeks' notice if employed for 12 years or more".
If you are off sick during notice, your pay may not be your normal rate. Gov.uk lists sickness, holiday and family leave among the situations where "you may not get your normal pay rate", and the amount depends on your contract and on whether you resigned or were dismissed.
If you resigned in the heat of the moment, say so straight away. Gov.uk notes that your employer "can choose to accept your resignation or not", so speed matters more than wording.
What not to write
- A leaving date you have not checked. Ask them to confirm it, as the Acas template does.
- A shorter notice period announced as a fact. Ask for a release or a payment in lieu instead.
- A threat of a tribunal in a first letter. Quote the section, request the correction, keep the tone flat.
- A resignation you may want back. If you are angry, write it and send it tomorrow.
Our notice letters sample page has the five standard resignation letters in full, 2 weeks notice covers the shorter US convention, and thank you letter has the note to colleagues on your last week.
Frequently asked questions
What is a notice period?
A notice period is the time between telling your employer you are leaving, or being told you are leaving, and your last day of employment. You are normally paid as usual throughout it. Its length comes from your contract, subject to the statutory minimums in section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
What is your current notice period meaning?
When an employer asks for your current notice period, they want the number of weeks or months you must work for your present employer before you could start with them. Answer with the contractual figure, for example one month, and say whether you could be released earlier.
What is a job notice period?
It is the notice written into that job's contract of employment, usually stated in the terms and conditions or the written statement of particulars. Common figures are one week in probation, one month for most staff, and three months for senior or specialist roles.
Do i have to work my redundancy notice period?
Usually yes, unless your employer puts you on garden leave or pays you in lieu, and payment in lieu needs to be in your contract or agreed by you. You can ask to leave early if you have another job, but leaving without agreement can affect your redundancy pay.
More in this series: Resignation, notice and reference letters
- 2 Week Notice Letter: Five Templates and the US Rules
- Notice Letters Sample: Five Templates and the UK Rules
- Reference Letter Examples: Five Letters and the Rules
- Thank You Letter Examples: Six Templates and the Rules
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