I have no work contract.How much notice must I give if I want to leave?

[bobbythedog]

[boxtops]

How long have you worked there? I am not certain of the detail but I believe there is a legal requirement to have a contract of employment after 2 months - there is some sort of implied contract if you are working and they are paying you. There are people on here with vast experience of employment law who hopefully can advise you.

[factor-fiction]

Did you discuss notice terms when you accepted the job?

[factor-fiction]

This may help.
http://www.businessli...792628&type=RESOURCES

The minimum statutory notice period which must be given by an employee is at least one week's notice if employed continuously for one month or more by that employer. Note that the maximum notice period is 12 weeks after 12 or more years' continuous service.

Minimum notice does not apply to the following people:

independent contractors or freelance agents - see our guide on employment status
employees whose fixed-term contracts have come to an end, with a few exceptions

[rachael88]

if there is no contract you dont have to give much notice, should only be a week

[buildersmate]

Wrong I'm afraid Rachael. Refer to Factor's answer.

[Twenty20]

This is always a difficult one for employers. If the employee insists on only giving a weeks notice when they should perhaps give a month or more there is really very little the employer can do in practical terms. They could refuse to give a reference or threaten to sue, but suing would hardly be worth the effort unless the employee was in a high powered job. Obviously they'd only get paid for a week rather than the month.

If the employer, as in this instance, hasn't even bothered to issue a contract of employment then, from a totally un-legal viewpoint, I wouldn't worry too much about how much notice you give them.

[buildersmate]

Employer doesn't have to 'issue a contract'. What it has to supply by law is a Written Statement of Employment Particulars within 2 months of the employee starting. This document does indeed form part of the contract but the lack of it doesn't mean there is no contract.
Hence my earlier answer.
What 20/20 says may be true, but you can't rely on it - employer may just decide to pursue you in a civil court for damages for not giving notice.