Hi All,

Was wondering how prospective new employers here (in Switzerland) are likely to react to someone who left their previous employer (Swiss company) without serving their 3 month notice period as per emplyment contract?

Very tempted to pack my stuff and go, preferably with as short a notice period as is practical (1 month instead of 3), no new employment lined up yet, just gatvol (sickntired)

Usefull comments appreciated,
Thanks

SV

Three points:
1. If you are looking to claim unemployment benefit you will only get it after the contractual end date ie 3 months...
2. If you leave early and simply stop going to work, this can have consequences as you are then in breach of contract and the company can claim damages and are entitled to put this on your reference.
3. If you agree with the company to leave early this is no problem at all - except see 1.

Thanks Richard...

My aim would be to get out of my current employment situation as soon as possible without causing to much fuss, no intention to live off unemployment benefits.

As much as I would like to walk out, I suspect that good sense would prevail and I would "offer" to stay on long enough to tie up any loose ends, that is if they want me to.

However lets say "good sense does not prevail" and I walk in tomorrow tending my resignation with effect the end of the month.... When going for interviews would this be more than a blemish - Suffcient to be turned down?

My previous employment history is pretty good with no history of sudden departures. There are further employment oppurtunities available for me here, so if "good sense"
does go out the window there is hope, provided of course future employers dont get hung up on this issue...

It also depends on the next employer and how badly they need or want you. I was recently offered a job and I had to start as quickly as possible, in other words they could not wait 3 months. They asked me if it would be possible to break the contract.

I simply asked very nicely and managed to negotiate an early exit.

Ask and might receive.

It is not the worry about future employers - see Gooners post. No the problem is you have a contract that states you shall work 3 months after you resign. Now common sense says you will not exactly be motivated to work all of the 3 months at 110% as before unless there is some form of incentive so it is in everyones interest to ensure that you are kept happy by agreeing to your early release. However, the company can insist you come in every day until the bitter end and even pay out holidays owed. IF they insist on this right and you simply do not turn up ie you are not "ill" either then you are in breach of contract and that is not where you want to go. In that case they can claim for the damage you have caused which, although not limited to, would probably be the recruitment of someone to immediately step in to your role until they can find a replacement or the 3 months notice period expires. This someone would then be a contractor and you would be paying the bill ie the SFr. 150 per hour 9-10 hours per day...

I don't think you want that do you?!