UK Notice Period Calculator

How this notice period calculator works

The calculator compares an official statutory or WARN minimum with any contract notice entered, then applies the longer period. Date estimates assume notice starts the day after it is given, which matches UK and Australian guidance. Use the contract field for employment contracts, awards, enterprise agreements, handbooks, union agreements, or policies that require more notice.

How to calculate a UK notice period

Start with the date notice is given, count the required calendar days, and compare that date with the planned last working day. For UK employer notice, the calculator uses complete years of service to estimate the statutory minimum, then checks whether the contract notice you entered is longer.

Formulas

contract_notice_days = contract_notice_weeks * 7
required_notice_days = max(official_notice_days, contract_notice_days)
notice_start_date    = notice_given_date + 1 day
earliest_end_date    = notice_given_date + required_notice_days
shortfall_days       = max(0, required_notice_days - planned_notice_days)
pay_estimate         = required_notice_days / 7 * weekly_pay

Worked notice examples

These examples use calendar days and assume notice is given on 2 May 2026. Always check the employment contract because a contract can require more notice than the statutory minimum.

• 1 week notice: notice given on 2 May 2026 gives an estimated final date of 9 May 2026.
• 2 weeks notice: the estimated final date is 16 May 2026.
• 4 weeks notice: the estimated final date is 30 May 2026.
• 1 month notice: check whether your contract means one calendar month rather than four weeks; those can produce different dates.
• 3 months notice: enter 13 weeks as a close weekly equivalent, then manually review the exact calendar-month wording in the contract.

Official source assumptions checked

UK employer notice uses statutory minimums from GOV.UK redundancy and dismissal guidance. UK employee resignation uses the GOV.UK minimum of one week after more than one month of employment. Australia employer notice uses the Fair Work Ombudsman National Employment Standards table, including the extra week for employees over 45 with at least two years of service. US WARN uses the Department of Labor 60 calendar day rule for covered plant closings and mass layoffs.

What this tool does not include

It does not decide whether dismissal is lawful, whether serious misconduct removes notice, whether a worker is casual or an employee, whether a US WARN event is covered, state mini-WARN rules, garden leave, payment in lieu clauses, collective agreements, award-specific Australian resignation rules, or payroll tax treatment. Treat it as a planning estimate, not legal advice.

References

• GOV.UK redundancy notice periods
• GOV.UK giving notice when resigning
• Acas notice periods
• Fair Work Ombudsman dismissal and notice
• Fair Work Ombudsman resignation and notice
• US Department of Labor WARN plant closings and layoffs

FAQ

Should I use statutory or contract notice?

Use the longer enforceable period. Statutory rules set a floor in places such as the UK and Australia for employer notice, but employment contracts, awards, union agreements, or company policies can require more notice.

When does the notice period start?

This calculator starts notice on the day after notice is given. For example, if notice is given on 2 May and the required notice is four weeks, the estimated earliest end date is 30 May.

Is 4 weeks notice the same as 1 month notice?

No. Four weeks is 28 calendar days. One calendar month usually runs to the same date in the next month where possible, so the final date can differ. If your contract specifies one calendar month, review the exact wording rather than assuming it means four weeks.

Does the calculator cover payment in lieu of notice?

It estimates the pay value of the notice period from weekly pay, but it does not decide whether payment in lieu is allowed. That usually depends on the contract, local law, and whether the employer and employee agree.

Why does US individual notice show contract-based results?

US federal law does not create a general individual notice period for every resignation or termination. The federal WARN Act is different: it can require 60 days for covered mass layoffs and plant closings.

Does public holiday or leave extend the notice period?

Not automatically in this calculator. Some jurisdictions or contracts have rules for leave during notice, but the date estimate here counts calendar days from the date notice is given.