If it's in the contract that you signed, you'd be in breach of contract. The outcome really depends on the situation and the company you work for:
- The longer the notice period, the more likely the company are to be pissed off and make a legal issue out of it.
- If you are a "mission critical" employee who leaves without properly handing on your work to another person, expect legal action. The entire point of notice periods is so that the company can plan for someone to take over from you.
- Regardless of the above, if you piss off the company whilst leaving, they are not going to give you a good reference for your next job. When I was applying for a new job, I was required to give a reference from my current employer. A bad reference or no reference at all may result in you losing out on the new job, leaving you unemployed.
- The longer the notice period, the more likely the company are to be pissed off and make a legal issue out of it.
- If you are a "mission critical" employee who leaves without properly handing on your work to another person, expect legal action. The entire point of notice periods is so that the company can plan for someone to take over from you.
- Regardless of the above, if you piss off the company whilst leaving, they are not going to give you a good reference for your next job. When I was applying for a new job, I was required to give a reference from my current employer. A bad reference or no reference at all may result in you losing out on the new job, leaving you unemployed.
