What is the best way to quit your job? Employment solicitor gives his top tips

According to the job site, CV-Library, 84 per cent of UK workers are searching for a new job and more than a than a third dislike their current job

Remember to return all company property and abide by confidentiality obligations (APA- PictureDesk GmbH/REX Shutterstock)

Most of us have itchy feet.

According to the job site, CV-Library, 84 per cent of UK workers are searching for a new job and more than a than a third, or 35.8 per cent, dislike their current job. When you do find that dream role and are about to have that awkward conversation with your boss, what should you be thinking about? Before dropping the bombshell, there are certain things that you ought to consider first.

Lock it down

It’s usually best not to resign until you have agreed terms with your new employer – and preferably signed the new contract. This will at least reduce the risk of you being jobless should things fall through. Don’t forget to review your notice provisions in your existing contract and make sure that any start date falls after the end of the notice period. After announcing your resignation, it’s always a good idea to follow it up in writing, confirming your last date of employment.

Check the terms

Do check whether you have any restrictions in your current contract which could preclude you from joining the new business. For a certain period of time, your contract may prevent you from joining a competitor, from dealing with or soliciting the clients or prospective clients of your employer, or from soliciting or poaching your employer’s staff. Only a non-compete restriction would stop you from joining a competitor at all.

The law is that restrictions must be reasonable and go no further than is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the business. Non-compete clauses that, for instance, preclude employees from working for a competitor for 12 months have on occasions been held by the courts to be reasonable. But much will depend on the particular case, and you would be well-advised to obtain advice from your lawyer on the enforceability of any particular restrictions. It’s sensible to tell a new employer of all possible restrictions – and sometimes this is actually a term of the new contract or the old one.

What about your bonus?

Bonuses are normally discretionary, and often contracts state that you will only be eligible if you are in employment on the bonus payment date and neither you nor your employer has given notice. If you resign before the payment date, you may well not receive a bonus. You will need to weigh up whether it’s better to put off the resignation until the cash hits your account or, if it’s not much to get excited about, decide to resign anyway. But also be aware that sometimes bonuses can be deferred in the form of cash, stock or options and, in most cases, if you resign before the award vests, it would be forfeited.

Make a clean break

Remember to return all company property and abide by confidentiality obligations. On resigning, you will be expected to return property belonging to your employer, including confidential documents, before you leave. You will also normally have contractual obligations not to disclose any confidential, commercially-sensitive information to third parties. It’s important of course that when you move on to pastures new you don’t give your old employer any ammunition to come after you.

So when you’ve done all the hard work and are about to make the next move, be careful not to mess it all up.

Matt Gingell is a partner at Gannons Solicitors, and specialises in employment law. Read all of his articles at www.mattgingell.com