The first steps as an apprentice, intern or trainee are always an opportunity to discover the world of work in a new light, thanks to the know-how of an employer and the support of the government.
However, life is unpredictable and there may be many reasons that come up that might make you want to end your internship or job experience early. If you want to quit your job for internships, apprenticeships or traineeships earlier than what your contract states, you should definitely know more about it. The short answer is yes, it is possible to break an internship contract, but just like resigning, it is not as simple as it seems.
Here is everything you need to know about how to end your work experience early.
Can You Leave An Internship Early?
Yes, it is possible to leave an internship early in the UK, but it should be handled professionally. Review your internship agreement for notice period requirements, and communicate your decision clearly with your supervisor, providing valid reasons.
Giving sufficient notice and maintaining a professional demeanour can help preserve a positive relationship with the organisation, which may be beneficial for future references and career opportunities.
Yes, it is possible to leave an internship early in the UK, but there are several considerations and steps to take to ensure the process is handled professionally and appropriately:
Review Your Internship Agreement:
- Check the terms and conditions outlined in your internship agreement or contract. It should specify the notice period required if you wish to leave early.
Communicate with Your Supervisor
- Arrange a meeting with your supervisor or manager to discuss your decision. Be honest and provide clear reasons for wanting to leave early, whether they are personal, professional, or related to the internship itself.
Provide Sufficient Notice
Give as much notice as possible, ideally adhering to the notice period stated in your contract. This allows the organization to make necessary arrangements and find a replacement if needed.
Complete Ongoing Tasks
- Ensure you complete any ongoing tasks or projects to the best of your ability before you leave. This demonstrates professionalism and helps maintain a positive relationship with your employer.
Offer Assistance
- Offer to help with the transition process, such as training a replacement or providing documentation on your tasks and responsibilities. This can leave a positive impression and show your commitment to the organization's success.
Maintain Professionalism
- Throughout the process, maintain a professional demeanour. Leaving on good terms is important for preserving your professional reputation and potential future opportunities.
Quitting an Internship in the UK
In order to understand whether or not you can quit internships early, you should first know what interns are actually considered under UK law. If you are part of an internship programme that is paid and you are called an employee in your contract then your internship is like any other type of employment in the UK.
In order to understand your rights as an intern, you will have to count legally as a “worker” under your intern experience. What does this mean? Under the UK government, you will count as a worker if you:
- Have a contract, written or unwritten, to do work or provide services in exchange for a reward (internships that are paid for example)
- The reward for this job experience has to be either money or a benefit in kind
- They are not working as part of their own company
If you qualify as a worker, this means that you are entitled to many different benefits such as:
- National Minimum Wage
- A minimum level of paid holiday
- Minimum length of rest breaks
- Average maximum of 48 hours of work per week
- Protection against work discrimination
There are other benefits you may get depending on your employers and your internship programme such as:
- Paternity and maternity pay
- Sick pay
Please ensure that you are a worker under your contract before you take on any job role regardless of the skills that you may be promised to gain.
If you want to quit an internship, there is a reference point in many internship contracts for marking the end of a probationary period. In the UK, the trial period of an employee means that you have the right to quit without any repercussions.
The trial period in the UK is 4 weeks, which is 20 days. This is the reference point you should keep in mind. At the end of these 4 weeks or any time during the, you should tell your employer that you do not want to continue your internship programme.
When you want to inform your employer of an early termination of your contract, this period makes things easier in many respects.
Leaving your Job During the Trial Period
Where termination occurs before the four weeks this means that you will leave your contract during the probation period, things can be a bit easier in terms of leaving and getting the contract terminated.
During the trial period, your boss and you as an employee can see how they feel about the role. If you feel unhappy with the role, you can choose to leave during the four-week trial period.
On the other hand, if your boss feels unhappy with your performance, they can choose to fire you during the probation period.
The minimum amount of time you are legally required to give to your manager or boss is one week. That means you have to give your boss one week's notice that you are planning on leaving your role.
Keep in mind that while four weeks is the standard, your contract may specify a longer time for the trial period. You should always check your contract regardless of any advice you may find online, as it will always specify these
- How long your trial period is
- Notice time for resignation letter
- How to give your resignation letter
Depending on your contract, you may be able to leave right away so make sure to understand the rules of your employment.
Handing in Your Notice
As we mentioned, there are many reasons why you may want to end your internship, apprenticeship or traineeship.
If you want to leave your internship contract but are outside of the trial period, the intern is obliged to notify the company of the termination in writing in three main ways:
1) By registered letter or recorded delivery, with acknowledgement of receipt.
2) By delivering the letter personally against a receipt.
3) By requesting a signature on the termination form.
You don’t always have to give your employer written notice that you are leaving. Your contract should specify whether a resignation letter is required for you if you want to leave. However, having proof that your employer received your resignation letter can be a great thing to have even if you have a great relationship with your manager.
A rule of thumb when deciding on leaving your job is that the law in the UK is that you should give at least one week’s notice when you are leaving. The notice time usually starts the day after you hand in your resignation notice.
What to Write in a Resignation Letter
There are many reasons why you may feel it’s time to end your internship early. Whether you have a 3-month contract or a year contract, you should know that there are some important bits of information you should include in your letter to your manager. After you check your contract for how much time you need to give notice to your manager. The best resource for writing a letter about leaving your company is online. You can find dozens of templates online for resignation letters in the UK.
The best resource you can take advantage of is ACAS. Here is a breakdown of the important information to include in your resignation letter. First, you should address your manager and have the date written that you are giving your resignation. There are also key bits of information you should include. Next, make sure to write your job title. You can find this information in your contract and you can be sure to write it exactly as you see it.
Next, please make sure to include the business or organisation you’re working for. The company name is an important bit of information for the resignation letter that you should make sure that you don’t miss. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, please specify the notice period you’re giving. This can be an interval of dates but should always include the last day that you should be expected to work.
Having all this information down will help clarify any questions your manager or company may have about your quitting the internship role and is great to have for your records. Again, there are dozens of ways you can write a resignation letter and even more templates you can find online.
However, every template should include the information we’ve mentioned above and you can consider this the standard for quitting a job. More information never hurt anyone!
Help with Leaving a Job in the UK
If you feel like you need help, you can always get free advice and resignation support from Acas. Whether you feel like you need help or are just curious about what type of help you can get, ACAS is the best starting point.
One thing they can help you understand is why final pay is often different from your usual salary.
Weekly or monthly payment is often different from your final payment for the following reasons:
- Holidays you’ve taken
- Deduction for any training you’ve undergone
- Any deduction due to your notice period
It is the responsibility of your employer to help you understand your salary as well as your final pay. If you have any doubts about it, you should always reach out to them first to get them to help you understand your payslip and any deductions that they’ve made.
ACAS can also help you work through the situation where you are leaving due to a problem at work. They recommend that the best first step if you have an issue at work is to raise it informally with your employer first.
While you may feel nervous about raising an issue with your bosses, such as unexpected management styles or problems within the team, you should opt for communication as it can often help resolve issues easily.
However, there are some issues that require more than just informal communication. You can raise the issue formally in what is known in the world of work as “raising a grievance.” The next step, if this does not solve the issue, is to make a complaint to the employment tribunal.
Regardless of how big or small the issue is, know that you are not alone and that there are worker’s associations and organisations out there that can help you out.
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