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Can one give their employer a longer notice period when resigning than in the contract? Will it be valid?
Is the understanding correct that notice periods in contracts only define a minimum?
Jurisdiction: England & Wales, also interested in other common law jurisdictions
You can give notice that is shorter or longer than required by your contract or by law.
If you give notice that is shorter then your employer doesn't have to accept your notice, so you will stay employed (obviously you can immediately give notice again with the correct length). On the other hand, they can accept your notice. Or they can tell you that they won't accept the notice you gave, but a different notice (say your contractual notice period is 3 months, you give one week notice, they can say "we don't accept one week notice, but we will accept one month").
If you give notice that is longer then your employer must accept your notice, but they are also entitled to lay you off with the correct notice period. So if your contract says "3 months", and you give six months notice, you may be out of a job in 3 months time.
Given a longer notice will never benefit you. You might change your mind, and then there is no way back. It is best for you to decide when you want to leave, and give the correct notice.
they are also entitled to lay you off with the correct notice period, can someone be laid off after they have already resigned (with the correct+ notice)?
Yes you can give a longer notice period than in the contract, you can even give a shorter one. When you're leaving you can negotiate with the employer - just be prepared that they may not let you do so. It will be subject to any work outstanding, or what level of hand-over is needed, or whether you and the business both agree it's best to end the contract at a different time.
Example: A settlement agreement generally means the contract ends as soon as that agreement is signed, there isn't a notice period.
You must give at least a week’s notice if you’ve been in your job for more than a month.
that will follow you around and no doubt appear on references Mainly I'm asking how it is in England & Wales, references are rare/non-existent (beyond confirming the person worked there, and potentially their salary), due to the very high legal risk associated with giving a reference. But anyway I'm asking about giving more notice than required (so deadlines are still met, for example)
Can one give their employer a longer notice period when resigning than in the contract?
Yes. But unless you're comfortable with your management / company, don't do it. In a lot of (software development) roles, dependent on the domain, having given notice makes you a risk and your employment will be immediately terminated. (They'll give you payment in lieu of contractual notice period).
Will it be valid?
Yes, but see above.
Is the understanding correct that notice periods in contracts only define a minimum?
Yes, although some are more explicit, e.g. "at least n weeks notice", in which case you're probably safe from immediate dismissal.
