OT - How much notice to give when quitting job?

[4boys531]

I am due with my second child in June and I am going to quit my job to take some time off (6 months at least). Here is my dilemma...I am currently a contract worker for one of the largest employers in my area. I like my job and want to leave with a good reputation so I can hopefully go back as a direct hire with this company, or at least go back as a contract worker sometime down the road. I will give at least 2 weeks notice but I think it would be nice to give more than that. I am an engineer so it takes awhile to find a new person (job posting, interviews, etc) and I don't want to leave them short-handed. However, I am afraid that if I give more than 2 weeks notice, they might let me go sooner than my desired end date. What approach would you take?

 

[DawnM]

I have always given the "required" amount. Most jobs that is 2 weeks but this last job I had wanted SIX weeks' notice!

And you are correct, they started interviewing and found someone in only 4 of the 6 weeks. But they WERE required to let me finish out the 6 weeks if I had wanted to. I didn't want to and left when they said the new person could start.

Find out the regulations. Do you have the option of staying until the designated quit date or will they ask you to leave if they find someone earlier?

Dawn

 

[4boys531]

I believe I am only required to give 2 weeks notice. I was just trying to keep a good name for myself in giving more, but I am not sure how it will be received. I think they will let me stay until my desired end date (May 30) but I have no way of knowing that ahead of time. I am not sure if I should just stick with 2 weeks or maybe give 4 weeks notice (or more?).

 

[NikiM20]

With the family medical Leave act you should be able to just take a leave of absence. Im not that familier with all the details , but i would check into it

 

[4boys531]

I am eligible for FMLA for 12 weeks unpaid leave (my company doesn't have short-term disability so I get no paid time off). However, since I want to take at least 6 months off, I am going to quit before the baby arrives.

 

[bumbershoot]

"I am eligible for FMLA for 12 weeks unpaid leave (my company doesn't have short-term disability so I get no paid time off). However, since I want to take at least 6 months off, I am going to quit before the baby arrives."

I am SO impressed with you. So many of my former co-workers knew they would be quitting, but stayed around, did the 12 weeks, and even went for the short-term disability thing, and once that was all done, THEN they quit. Man oh man did I feel that that was bad for womankind, or at least woman-in-the-workplace-kind! So good for you.

As for notice, hubby has never given beyond 2 weeks, and although HE has never been sent away early, the employees that companies value less are indeed sent away early. His former manager at his last job finally got fed up, went in to give her two weeks, and came out of the office to clean off her desk, that's how little they valued her (there were issues on both sides). He gave notice a month later, and they kept him on those 2 weeks AND tried to talk him out of it; same group of bosses, different level of respect for the employee. So assuming that 2 weeks is the normal for your company, just do that, IMO.

But be ready to have people be amazed like I was, b/c so many women will use the system while pretending that they will be back and some won't understand why you aren't!

 

[Metro West]

I've always given two weeks.

 

[SallyfromDE]

Why don't you ask for an extended leave? See if they'll give 6 months. It may depend on how easy or hard they have filling jobs. Most places usually require 2 weeks notice. But some require written notice. I'd check to see what your companies policy is. Where I work, we do have short term, 12 weeks, I took that. Then did the 12 weeks FMLA. When I wasn't released from my Dr. yet, I had to apply for an extension. They would have approved another 12 weeks, but I was back before that. They also require 2 weeks notice, but will accept 1 week. Anything under that and your aren't re-hireable. In your case, they know you are pregnant, I'd go sit down with HR and see what my options are.

 

[wdwfan1]

Where I work, we are required to give notice equal to the amount of one year's vacation. If you get 4 weeks vacation, you are required to give 4 weeks notice.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I gave my boss over a year notice of when I was going to retire.

He told me he would not give me any more special assignments and just do my regular work. However, he did ask me to over the next year to document some of my thought processes to explain what I actually did so that the people who took over for me would not be completely lost.

Actually during that last year my division was having a reorganization and my duties were split out to five sections in three branches. I did leave about 200 documents and speadsheets in a shared use network directory called "Mike's Replacement's Information".

 

[ajh88]

Regardless of how much notice you decide to give, I think if you have a good relationship with your boss, you should tell him/her exactly what you told us. The length of notice will vary - when I quit my part-time job at Wal-Mart, I gave 2 weeks notice. When I quit my "real" job to go back to school full-time, I actually ended up giving 5 months notice! They didn't ask me to leave early and actually let me stay on for a few extra days so I could get my bonus too.

 

[Jordans_Mommie]

If you give written notice, they have to pay you through the date on your letter. So, even if they hired someone else and decided to let you leave early, they would have to pay you through May 30. But, I am betting that they would be thrilled to have you around to train your replacement.

I would be sure to mention that you want to take six months and then you expect to return to the workforce. They may be able to work something out with you, at least give them the opportunity.

Best of Luck to you!

 

[juliana_sd]

My feeling is, they know they will have to backfill while you are on maternity leave anyway, so I wouldn't feel bad about not giving more than two weeks. There is a good possibility they would just tell you that it was your last day when you give your notice. In my industry there's a big fear of employees sabotaging things or transferring insider information, so for certain positions they get you out as soon as possible when you tell them you want to leave.

 

[ragtopday]

If you give written notice, they have to pay you through the date on your letter. So, even if they hired someone else and decided to let you leave early, they would have to pay you through May 30.

I just want to comment on this statement: this may be policy at the poster's employer, but is most definitely not universally true. Many employers have what is called an "employment at will" policy, which basically means they can let you go for any time and for any reason.

To the OP - I think if you are open and honest about your intentions and desire to return that if you are a valued contributor, they will be thrilled to take you back when and if you are ready.

 

[iwannago!!]

Why don't you ask for an extended leave? See if they'll give 6 months. It may depend on how easy or hard they have filling jobs. Most places usually require 2 weeks notice. But some require written notice. I'd check to see what your companies policy is. Where I work, we do have short term, 12 weeks, I took that. Then did the 12 weeks FMLA. When I wasn't released from my Dr. yet, I had to apply for an extension. They would have approved another 12 weeks, but I was back before that. They also require 2 weeks notice, but will accept 1 week. Anything under that and your aren't re-hireable. In your case, they know you are pregnant, I'd go sit down with HR and see what my options are.

I agree 100%. When I had my last 2 babies, I took off the 12 weeks FMLA followed by a Leave of Absence. There were no secrets, I was upfront about everything. My bosses & HR were all very supportive, we kept in contact & I gave 2-3 weeks notice of when I was returning to work. FWIW, I was off for 5 mo with DD & 7mo with DS. If you have a good job that you enjoy, then take advantage of the time provided to you under your HR benefit umbrella to enjoy your new baby & really consider if you want to SAH or go back to work.

Best wishes!

 

[4boys531]

Thank you all for your advice. Here is my company's official statement:

We ask that employees provide at least two weeks notice prior to voluntary termination of employment when possible. At its discretion, we may choose not to have the employee work during the notice period; however, employees will be paid through the termination date. Terminating employees are entitled to receive all earned pay including earned paid time off.

So it sounds like even if I give 4 or 6 weeks notice, I will still get paid even if they tell me they won't want me to work for them anymore (which I don't think will be the case, but you just never know!).

 

[happygirl]

I think two weeks is the norm

 

[Jordans_Mommie]

I just want to comment on this statement: this may be policy at the poster's employer, but is most definitely not universally true. Many employers have what is called an "employment at will" policy, which basically means they can let you go for any time and for any reason.

To the OP - I think if you are open and honest about your intentions and desire to return that if you are a valued contributor, they will be thrilled to take you back when and if you are ready.

It is not just a policy at my employer and more often than not it is true. I work in the payroll and HR industry and if someone gives their written resignation and the employer terminates them before the resignation date, then that employee has been effectively terminated and is eligible for unemployment.

Most employers will pay through the resignation date rather than risk being on the hook for unemployment.