Does my notice period start the day I hand in my resignation or the day it is accepted?

Read your contract. Most say the day of submission, but some require written acceptance first. If it is silent, ask HR to confirm the start date in writing before you commit to dates elsewhere.

Can I use earned leave to shorten my notice period instead of just my time in office?

Only if your employer explicitly allows it. Many will let you avoid coming into office but still count those days toward the notice, meaning your relieving date does not move. Get this in writing before you plan around it.

How much buffer should I leave between jobs?

A week is common if you are moving straight to a signed offer. Longer if you need to clear your head, handle paperwork, or the new employer has its own onboarding lead time.

Notice period planner

Before any money changes hands, resigning is a date problem. Pick the wrong resignation date and you either hand back a signing bonus deadline or turn up to a new job a week before you are actually free.

This walks the dates forward: resignation date plus notice period gives your last working day, and a buffer on top of that gives the earliest sensible date to tell a new employer you can start.

Last working day

Sat, 14 Nov, 2026

Earliest sensible start date elsewhere: Sun, 22 Nov, 2026

Resignation date: Tue, 15 Sept, 2026
Notice period: 60 days
Leave adjusted against notice: 0 days
Last working day: Sat, 14 Nov, 2026
Buffer before the next job: 7 days
Earliest realistic start date: Sun, 22 Nov, 2026

Everything above is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved anywhere.

How this is worked out

The last working day is the resignation date plus the notice period, minus any leave your employer counts against the notice itself.
The earliest start date adds your rest buffer on top of the last working day, plus one day.
Nothing here touches money. If you want the cost of leaving early instead of the date you would leave on full notice, use the buyout calculator.

What this does not cover

This assumes calendar days throughout, because that is how almost every Indian notice clause is written. A handful of contracts count working days only; check yours.
It does not know your employer accepted the resignation on the date you submitted it. Some require formal acceptance before the notice clock starts, which can push every date out.
It does not check whether your new employer will actually wait this long. Confirm their expected joining date before you resign, not after.

Questions people ask

Does my notice period start the day I hand in my resignation or the day it is accepted?: Read your contract. Most say the day of submission, but some require written acceptance first. If it is silent, ask HR to confirm the start date in writing before you commit to dates elsewhere.
Can I use earned leave to shorten my notice period instead of just my time in office?: Only if your employer explicitly allows it. Many will let you avoid coming into office but still count those days toward the notice, meaning your relieving date does not move. Get this in writing before you plan around it.
How much buffer should I leave between jobs?: A week is common if you are moving straight to a signed offer. Longer if you need to clear your head, handle paperwork, or the new employer has its own onboarding lead time.

Where these figures come from

Rates and rules on this page were last checked against the source on 31 August 2026. Tax law changes; check the source before you rely on a number for a decision.

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