Ambiguous terms in contract

[orbita]

Hi, I have a little problem with my contract. Hope to have some advice.

1. The resignation notice is 2 months or 2 months salary in lieu of notice.
2. No notice is allowed in the first 6 months.

Now I want to quit my job and I gave notice 2 months before completing first 6 months.
In other words, I did give 2 months notice and completed 6 months of work.

The company's gonna charge me 2 months salary and they said they don't allow any resignation before the first 6 month.

What is your opinion? What will happen if I insist on quitting the job before the first 6 month? There is no penalty clause in the contract whatsoever.

Hope someone can help me. Thank you.

[nowaydude]

Well, I don't think it is ambiguous. If it says no notice allowed in first 6 months - that means notice........not you can give notice in first 6 months if you work 6 months. In that case, I would expect some other phrasing. Sorry.

[Bubbletoo]

I see the contract as being clear. However the company has used a particular sequence of phrases to benefit (or protect) itself depending how you see it. Hence its really an 8 month minimum contract. Damn sneaky really......

My contract has similar content. At a glance (which is what most companies expect you to do before signing) it looks OK. To make you sign faster they probably told you, "oh it's just the standard contract".

I asked for amendments which were refused on this pretence and this was for an international bank. Anyway i was at a junior level so not much power. Basically it was sign or not take the job. I signed cause im still a little 'un'.

Same bank locked in all the new junior staff to sign the said contract. They weren't allowed even 5 minutes to read it or take it home. Rather strangely the contract also stipulated that you agreed that you had 7 days to review the contract.

Conclusion : read every phrase and its context. Take it home and if you have the money have a lawyer review. if you don't like it be prepared to walk away from the offer.

[Bubbletoo]

If you don't want to pay the money stay in the company for the additional 2 months. Just don't do any work....of course its a bit risky.