I’m in a tricky resignation situation and would love advice, especially from people in banking / UK employment.
I don’t want to change the joining date with my new employer…
Notice period: 4 weeks
New job start date: 16 June 2026
Bonus communicated: 7 May
Bonus payment date: technically paid after midnight, so around 12 AM on Saturday 23 May
Annual leave remaining: 25 days
My employee handbook says if I give notice before the Bonus Payment Date, it counts as a “Non-Payment Event” and I may lose eligibility for my discretionary bonus.
It also says:
- I must give 4 weeks’ notice
- company may use garden leave or Payment in Lieu of Notice (PILON)
- unused holiday may be taken during notice or paid in lieu
My concern:
If I wait until bonus is actually paid (23 May) and then resign, my 4-week notice runs until around 20 June, but my new employer expects me to start on 16 June and I’ve already signed the contract.
Questions:
- Is resigning immediately after bonus payment the safest move?
- Does being on annual leave still count as overlapping employment?
- Has anyone handled this successfully without losing bonus?
Would really appreciate advice from anyone who’s been through this.