LEAVING WORK

Dismissal

• Your employer may dismiss you without notice if you do something very serious, e.g. hitting a supervisor or stealing.
• In other instances you should be given at least one week's notice or a week's pay instead. If your job ends for any reason except dismissal for bad conduct, what notice is given and what notice you must give must be what is written in your terms and conditions of employment (your contract).
• Your employer has the right to sack you if you are often late, if you are often off sick, or if your behaviour is not what the employer expects for the job you are in (e.g. if you are rude to customers). The procedure before dismissing you must be fair, e.g. you must be given several warnings before you are sacked (This will give you a second chance to improve your behaviour).

Can I Complain?

• You can complain to an industrial tribunal if you think you have been unfairly dismissed for a number of reasons. These include belonging to or working for a union, or for not wanting to join a union, and if you think you have been unfairly treated in any way because of your sex, disability, colour or because you are pregnant.
• If you wish to complain to a tribunal about unfair dismissal or in any case where you feel that you have been unfairly treated at work, get advice from your trade union, a Citizens Advice Bureau, or consult a solicitor.

If in doubt, ASK - you may lose your rights if you delay.

Leaving Voluntarily

• Usually you must give at least one week's notice if you wish to leave. If you have written terms and conditions of employment stating what notice you must give, then you must follow these rules.
• You should be given form P45 to take to your next employer, to help them work out your tax correctly. Keep this safe.
• Working Abroad
• See the Going Places chapter for more info on this.