I live in Australia, and our rules on what employers do and don’t have to do when their employees resign are vague to me.
I work for a small business, the pay is below average and the boss has a hell of a temper which has recently been revealed when my colleague gave notice recently. I genuinely felt unsafe when I heard the shouting my colleague received, and I’ve decided that’s it, I don’t want to be there any longer than I have to be. HR doesn’t exist in this company.
I’m thinking of working out the rest of the year so I can still enjoy the end of year celebration with my friends/coworkers and use up some paid leave over the holidays. The beginning of the year is quiet usually so I think I’ll feel minimal guilt over leaving in January, and I’m required to give 2 weeks notice according to my contract. Typically an employer will pay out any unused annual leave, but if I don’t give notice are they still required to do that?
The idea of having to work for 2 weeks or even just 1 once my boss is notified is stressing me so badly I can’t eat. I plan on jumping straight into a new job so I won’t be without income, but the probationary period of a new job is scary so I was hoping to retain the extra money from unused leave as a backup if it goes wrong.