The "Two Week Notice" - Just a Formality?

[AKL_Megs]

I'm starting a new job, hopefully April 1st, and will soon be giving my current job the proverbial "two-week notice". For reasons far too complicated and in depth to get into here, I will most likely not find out if my starting on April 1st is a go until the last week of March.

How terrible would it be if I only got to give them a "one-week notice" or a "one-and-a-half-week notice"?

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to burn bridges and WANT to give them the full two-weeks, but if I get delayed (delayed again, that is... I was supposed to start March 4th... ), I want to be able to still work there. (They'll fire me if they know I am looking, as they are notorious for this.)

What do you all think?

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

IF they are notorious for firing people just for looking for a new job, what makes you think they won't can you since you already have a new job?

What I'm saying is, if they can people just for looking, they'll probably tell you not to worry about the two weeks, you can leave today.

ETA: Not that I agree with their behavior at all. I was just wondering if they'd even let you stay once you tell them.

 

[Beth76]

That should be fine. I mean what are they going to do fire you? Actually at my DH's job some people were escorted out immediately when they gave notice. Anyhow, just give them notice as soon as you know.

 

[kidzmom3]

if you ever want to work for the company you are currently working for and/or you think your business is a small world and you will run into them again at another business, give the required notice. Anything less really leaves your employer in the lurch. As the supervisor I do the schedule and if I had to fill 40 hours with 5 days notice, I would never hire that person for anything again.

 

[ilisao]

Check your employee handbook. At my old job, if you didn't give the full, required notice, they didn't have to pay for you all your available leave.

 

[AKL_Megs]

IF they are notorious for firing people just for looking for a new job, what makes you think they won't can you since you already have a new job?

What I'm saying is, if they can people just for looking, they'll probably tell you not to worry about the two weeks, you can leave today.

ETA: Not that I agree with their behavior at all. I was just wondering if they'd even let you stay once you tell them.

Well, they FIRE the people they don't like. They like me, so I don't think I really have to worry about being fired. BUT, if I did give a two-week notice and found out I needed to stay, they wouldn't let me. I'd have to be re-hired.

 

[Mr Man]

I'm starting a new job, hopefully April 1st, and will soon be giving my current job the proverbial "two-week notice". For reasons far too complicated and in depth to get into here, I will most likely not find out if my starting on April 1st is a go until the last week of March.

How terrible would it be if I only got to give them a "one-week notice" or a "one-and-a-half-week notice"?

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to burn bridges and WANT to give them the full two-weeks, but if I get delayed (delayed again, that is... I was supposed to start March 4th... ), I want to be able to still work there. (They'll fire me if they know I am looking, as they are notorious for this.)

What do you all think?

Is there an explicit (or worse implicit) employment contract that says you have to give 2 weeks notice? If not, I would say it is just a formality. Check your employee handbook and company policies just to make sure (would hate to see you lose accrued vacation etc).

Personally, I think it is a good idea to give formal 2 week notice (even if it is actually only 1 week or less before you leave). My experience is most companies don't have a problem shortening this period anyways.

Best of luck.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Is there an explicit (or worse implicit) employment contract that says you have to give 2 weeks notice? If not, I would say it is just a formality. Check your employee handbook and company policies just to make sure (would hate to see you lose accrued vacation etc).

Personally, I think it is a good idea to give formal 2 week notice (even if it is actually only 1 week or less before you leave). My experience is most companies don't have a problem shortening this period anyways.

Best of luck.

There is nothing in my handbook, and I used up all of my vacation/personal time two weeks ago (already thought of that!) Really, the only thing I feel bad about is leaving them high and dry for a week they will have scheduled me... although they don't really worry about ME doing the work of two people when they FIRE someone No two-weeks notice then!

 

[Judy from Boise]

As a supervisor, anyone who resigns without a proper two week notice gets coded by me as inelligible for re-hire. I consider it highly unprofessional.

 

[froglady]

As a supervisor, anyone who resigns without a proper two week notice gets coded by me as inelligible for re-hire. I consider it highly unprofessional.

ITA

Did you have to give your future employer references from your current employer? Or will they be checking them after the fact? If the latter, they will be told that you didn't give proper notice, which will make you a bit more unattractive to your current employer. That doesn't mean that they won't hire you (if they want/need you badly) but it will always be in the back of their mind. Sort of like, "Gee, she left her previous employer in the lurch when she found a better job. I wonder if she'll do the same to me?"

Is there any way you can either get your new employer to be more definite about the start date (and curiously, why has it changed? That may be something YOU should be concerned about!) or give the full two weeks notice, leave on your last day and just be unemployed if you can't start your new job for a week or two?

 

[hiwaygal]

I would never give notice until I have the official offer/documentation from the new employer.

The new employer should understand that you need to give at least two weeks notice to your current employer (someday they may want that same courtesty).

If you give your notice, and your current job lets you go immediately...and the new job falls through, what will you do then??

 

[jenrose66]

It's good to give 2 weeks, but not necessary if it won't suit you don't do it. I gave no notice at my last job. They were jerks to me so I didn't feel the need to make anything easier for them.

 

[manning]

It sounds like you don't know if you have that other job.

I would wait until you know for sure.

I have heard of people who thought they had the job, did not have the written offer, quit there job and then found out the other job feel through. The new company changed their mind.

 

[Alaska DogCat]

I had this dilemma when switching my last job. My previous employer's expectation was clearly two weeks. For a variety of reasons, I didn't want to give two weeks. In the end, I did give two weeks. Because I live in a state that has a very small population, I figure I will be dealing with these people (my former employer's management) as long as I live here and despite moving several hundred miles away, my future is still partially in their hands.

If you can give the notice, give it--even if it's inconvenient. It's a karma thing.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I say do what you have to. My company fires people if they suspect you are going to a competitor. Besides, trust me, most companies aren't loyal to employees any more.

I wouldn't do it on purpose, but if I had to quit with NO NOTICE to take a job I wanted, I would.

 

[Papa Deuce]

As a supervisor, anyone who resigns without a proper two week notice gets coded by me as inelligible for re-hire. I consider it highly unprofessional.

You quit my department for any reason, you don't get rehired, so that would mean nothing to me.

 

[Papa Deuce]

ITA

Did you have to give your future employer references from your current employer?

My company ALSO give NO REFERENCES of any type. They will only say that you worked for them from date X - til date Y. Afraid of lawsuits for giving bad references.

I could be a total idiot slacker, and my company can't say a word, per their own policy.

 

[schnerk]

I would never give notice until I have the official offer/documentation from the new employer.

The new employer should understand that you need to give at least two weeks notice to your current employer (someday they may want that same courtesty).

I completely agree.

As a former manager, I would never ask someone to quit and leave their old company in a lurch. If someone did that, I would be concerned that they might do the same thing to me. Talk to your new boss, and see if you can work something out.

 

[donnajon]

Could you tell the new job that you need to give two weeks notice before starting so that you can give notice at your present job? That seems like something they should respect and would want to happen to them in the future. Then your situation would be resolved. You could tell them that if they want you to start on April 1, you have to have final notice by March 18

 

[malibuconlee]

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to burn bridges and WANT to give them the full two-weeks, but if I get delayed (delayed again, that is... I was supposed to start March 4th... ), I want to be able to still work there. (They'll fire me if they know I am looking, as they are notorious for this.)

What do you all think?

What was the "delay" that is causing you to "maybe" start on April 1st? I would be concerned about leaving one job to go to another where they are flip flopping around like that.