Can I resign without notice?
Usually no: resignation requires notice, with a few exceptions. Under the Labour Code (art. 81), you can resign at any time, by written notification, but you must observe a notice period. Its length is set in the individual or collective employment contract and can't exceed 20 working days for employees in executive roles, or 45 working days for those in management roles. During the notice period, the contract keeps producing all its effects and you receive your full salary. You can leave without notice only in a few situations: during the probation period (resignation may be given with no notice), by agreement with the employer, or when the employer fails to meet its duties under the contract (e.g. doesn't pay the salary). The resignation must be filed in writing and registered by the employer.
📋 The rules
- Resignation given by written notification, registered
- Notice of at most 20 working days (executive)
- Notice of at most 45 working days (management)
- During notice, the contract stands and you're paid
- Notice runs from the day after notification
🔓 Exceptions
- Probation period: resignation may be given with no notice
- Agreement with the employer: leaving without notice
- Employer fails to meet its duties: resignation without notice
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If you leave without observing notice outside the allowed cases, the employer can treat you as absent without leave, which can lead to disciplinary dismissal and, where applicable, to you being ordered to pay damages for the harm caused, if it can be proven. To avoid trouble: file the resignation in writing, keep a registered copy, observe the notice period and hand over your duties properly. If you want to leave sooner, you can ask the employer's agreement to waive notice. During probation, or when the employer breaches its duties, you can leave without notice, but it's advisable to be able to prove the reason.
📎 Official sources
- Labour Code (Law 53/2003) · art. 81 →
- Labour Inspectorate →
- Labour Code · art. 31 (probation period) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I resign without notice?
Usually no. Resignation requires notice of at most 20 working days for executive roles and 45 for management. You can leave without notice only during the probation period, by agreement with the employer, or if the employer fails to meet its contractual duties, such as not paying the salary.
How long is the resignation notice?
Notice is set in the contract and can't exceed 20 working days for employees in executive roles, or 45 working days for those in management roles. During this period the contract produces all its effects, you receive your full salary and you hand over your duties to the employer.
Must I resign in writing?
Yes. The resignation notification must be made in writing, and the employer must register it. Keep a copy with the registration number as proof of the date from which notice starts to run. A purely verbal resignation can be hard to prove in case of dispute, so always put it in writing.
Can I leave immediately during probation?
Yes. During the probation period, both the employee and the employer can end the contract by a written notification, with no notice and no need to give reasons. It's the only situation in which, by law, resignation can take effect immediately, without you having to observe the notice period.
What do I risk if I don't observe notice?
You can be treated as absent without leave, which can bring disciplinary dismissal and, if the employer proves harm, an order to pay damages. So, outside the cases allowed by law, it's advisable to observe notice or get the employer's agreement to shorten it before leaving.
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