Shorter notice periods - what's the worst?

[NotAllThere]

An employer can't force their employee to come to work. All they can do during the notice period* is prevent you from working for anyone else. But in order to do this they have to keep paying you (so-called gardening leave). If they don't pay you, then they're in breach of contract and you are free to go.

If you go work for someone else, and they're paying you gardening leave, they can sue. What damages they'd be entitled to, I don't know. I guess if you went to an immediate competitor, it could be quite a lot.

* Notice period in this context is limited to payment cycles. So if you're paid monthly, then the notice period is one month.

[VectraMan]

In my old permie job one of the office types walked out with no notice on pay day, or so he thought. The company cancelled the whole payroll run and paid everybody 3 days late just to avoid paying him.

Not sure how it worked out in the end.

[KathyWoolfe]

Where I am currently working, they apparently escort you off the premises immediately you say you want to go. Apparently this happened only yesterday as my project managers' project manager (who apparently was a contractor) left - for no reason that we were told - and we were told only after the fact.
It was like a bolt out of the blue as only a day or so previously we were talking about my working over the Christmas/New Year holiday period.

So if I suddenly disappear you will know that I've been booted out for posting on here!

[Rymez2K]

I know this is a permie thing but it applies to contractors too. I have always been curious of what was the worst thing that happened to somebody who didn't serve the full notice period. Got any story to tell about this? I did once but I was in the probation period and left immediately without serving the 1 week notice due. Not only they didn't keep any money but they paid the full amount for the two days I did not work and called them saying that I would not continue to work there and they also paid the one week notice despite I didn't do that. So just wonder that it is not easy for a company to sue people who do not serve the notice period.

p.s. all other considerations are off topic (like professionalism, get good references, burn bridges, etc.), I am just curious of what are the risks from a legal point of view in reality

Phew! On clicking on the title I thought this thread may turn to be similar to this
!!

[EqualOpportunities]

Alternatively, if you don't hand your notice in, but leave for 'Personal Reasons', there are no questions asked... Or so I understand

[Gonzo]

Sorry, I can't help. When I was permie and knew that I was going to leave I always made sure that I had enough unused holiday in the bank.

But the trick is that if you are high enough up the food-chain then the minute you hand your notice in then you are escorted off-site, not allowed back and are given the notice period as "gardening leave".

[Francko]

I know this is a permie thing but it applies to contractors too. I have always been curious of what was the worst thing that happened to somebody who didn't serve the full notice period. Got any story to tell about this? I did once but I was in the probation period and left immediately without serving the 1 week notice due. Not only they didn't keep any money but they paid the full amount for the two days I did not work and called them saying that I would not continue to work there and they also paid the one week notice despite I didn't do that. So just wonder that it is not easy for a company to sue people who do not serve the notice period.

p.s. all other considerations are off topic (like professionalism, get good references, burn bridges, etc.), I am just curious of what are the risks from a legal point of view in reality