How do I resign without giving a notice period.?
You just say “Goodbye” and walk out. Now, whether they can enforce the 4 weeks penalty clause in your contract is a matter for State law, and you didn’t say where you are. In my State that penalty would be ‘counter to public policy’ and utterly unenforceable. EDIT…. I just noticed that you are in the UK. I suggest that you consult with a Solicitor, but I ‘think’ I remember that in the UK a contract can legally require you to compensate your employer for one pay periods wages if you quit without notice. I do remember, though, that the longest notice period that can be required is also one pay period.
I don’t see that you can. Your choices are to stick it out or pay up. Ironically, your only hope may be if your employer dismisses you – if it is a choice between keeping someone with no interest in the job on for three months, or replacing you straight away with someone else, they may well opt for the latter, even if it means forfeiting their rights under the compensation clause. By the way, the cooling-off period kwflamingo refers to applies only to consumer contracts (ie where you are buying goods or services), not to contracts of employment.
