h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This depends where you are (or were) employed of course, because that will most-likely determine the law under whose jurisdiction your entitlements will be governed.

In general, your Contract will define your entitlements subject to statutory minima. The Law should overide your Contract.

In England, minimum period of notice is (I believe still) governed by the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act, 1978 (EPCA), and you are protected from unfair dismissal by the EPCA and the Employment Acts (1980 and 1982).

Length of service less than 4 weeks – no notice required.
Length of service more than 4 weeks but less than 2 years – 1 week notice.
Length of service more than 2 years but less than 3 years – 2 weeks notice.
Length of service more than 3 years but less than 4 years – 3 weeks notice.

...and so on ... up to

Length of service more than 12 years – 12 weeks notice.


The EPCA also governs the statutory size of redundancy payouts, which can be calcualted as follows:

For each year in service aged less than 22 but not less than 18 – 0.5 week of pay.
For each year in service aged less than 41 but not less than 22 – 1 week of pay.
For each year in service aged less than 65 but not less than 41 – 1.5 week of pay.

Surely some HR person can confirm this.

*sigh* Those of us in the US don't have such extensive protection, although those in union jobs often do.

Credit where credit's due, please.

Dear DMT,

Sorry, I thought I'd put you in. You should be on now. Thanks for your contribution

Anna