Two Weeks Notice

[Christine]

What does it mean to you?

A friend of mine just got a new job and gave her current employer 2 weeks notice.

She works part time in 3-day shifts. The shift is Thursday-Saturday. She counted out the weeks from yesterday which made her 2 week time period end on April 21st. So, in that two weeks, she will work yesterday, today, and this Saturday. Then she will work the 14-16th of April. Her next day to work a new shift would have been April 21st (the last day of the 2 week notice time frame) so, in her letter, while she gave two weeks notice, she figured her last day would be April 16th. Her new employer also figured that and asked her to start on April 18th.

So, she hands in her resignation and her boss wants her to stay until the 23rd of April because "he's not counting this shift" and feels that she owes him two full shifts past the one she just started.

She's not going to argue with him because she will want to use him as a reference but I just thought it an odd thought process but, I haven't worked part-time in so long (and never in shifts) that maybe we're wrong?

 

[golfgal]

Two calendar weeks, who cares what "shifts" you work but she is smart not burning bridges and most companies understand that they may need to fill a commitment to their old office. When I have left previous jobs I have tried to give 2 weeks notice with a week buffer either for time off for me or to have some flexibility for the old company.

 

[AKL_Megs]

That is HIS prerogative now! She gave her full two-weeks, which is a courtesy to begin with.

 

[FredinFL]

He's pushing it. She was nice to give the two weeks, but it's not mandatory.

 

[anniemae]

I would take it to mean two calendar weeks.

I would hate to burn bridges though, never know if the new job does not work out. Then she would probably not be re-hired by her current boss. Or, if she needs to use this boss as a reference in the future. Even though I think she is right, I think it wise for her to just work the extra shift.

 

[Poohforyou]

It technically is 2 weeks from the date you hand in your letter. However, if her current boss is asking that she extend the 2 weeks a bit and she's able to it would be wise to do it. I've learned from my 25+ years in the work force not to burn bridges. She may one day find herself in need of a favor from her current boss.

 

[charming23]

I too have always felt it was two weeks from when you turn in your letter. The last job I resigned from I gave my two weeks and she ended up only needing me for one week so I got a nice week off in between jobs.

 

[bfeller]

Where my husband works on the day that you give your two week notice is the same day that you are escorted out the door.

 

[golfgal]

Where my husband works on the day that you give your two week notice is the same day that you are escorted out the door.

Which is becoming fairly common-depending on the job.

 

[npmommie]

What does it mean to you?

A friend of mine just got a new job and gave her current employer 2 weeks notice.

She works part time in 3-day shifts. The shift is Thursday-Saturday. She counted out the weeks from yesterday which made her 2 week time period end on April 21st. So, in that two weeks, she will work yesterday, today, and this Saturday. Then she will work the 14-16th of April. Her next day to work a new shift would have been April 21st (the last day of the 2 week notice time frame) so, in her letter, while she gave two weeks notice, she figured her last day would be April 16th. Her new employer also figured that and asked her to start on April 18th.

So, she hands in her resignation and her boss wants her to stay until the 23rd of April because "he's not counting this shift" and feels that she owes him two full shifts past the one she just started.

She's not going to argue with him because she will want to use him as a reference but I just thought it an odd thought process but, I haven't worked part-time in so long (and never in shifts) that maybe we're wrong?

I would have figured my last day to be april 21.
but I agree about not burning bridges, you just never know what the future holds.

 

[FireDancer]

It technically is 2 weeks from the date you hand in your letter. However, if her current boss is asking that she extend the 2 weeks a bit and she's able to it would be wise to do it. I've learned from my 25+ years in the work force not to burn bridges. She may one day find herself in need of a favor from her current boss.

This exactly.

 

[Christine]

I would have figured my last day to be april 21.
but I agree about not burning bridges, you just never know what the future holds.

She did figure that, however, she was never scheduled to work after the 16th. Her next day on schedule would have been the 21st but it is part of a "package deal", these shifts are so she figured he wouldn't want her to work only one day of that "package". If he did, she would have. As it is, she will work until the 23rd. It's the logic he used that confused us all. That he was "counting this week's work" towards her 2 weeks notice?

 

[happygirl]

It two weeks from when you give your notice.

 

[Planogirl]

Where my husband works on the day that you give your two week notice is the same day that you are escorted out the door.

That often happens where I work but they seem to always get paid for the two weeks in spite of that. Everyone is always hoping that they're lucky enough to be escorted out.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

This...

I would have figured my last day to be april 21.
but I agree about not burning bridges, you just never know what the future holds.

She did figure that, however, she was never scheduled to work after the 16th. Her next day on schedule would have been the 21st but it is part of a "package deal", these shifts are so she figured he wouldn't want her to work only one day of that "package". If he did, she would have. As it is, she will work until the 23rd. It's the logic he used that confused us all. That he was "counting this week's work" towards her 2 weeks notice?

I don't really understand the "package deal", but if I were to give two weeks notice, I would expect to work on the 21st. If there's some sort of actual technical work reason why working on the 21st requires her to also stay until the 23rd, then I think the boss should accept that she won't be there on the 21st. However, as most everyone has said, if it's at all possible, go along with what the boss wants and don't burn bridges.

 

[tvguy]

Where my husband works on the day that you give your two week notice is the same day that you are escorted out the door.

I worked at a place like that. Boss's normal reaction when you gave notice was to say "clean out your desk". However, in my case, because I worked the graveyard shift, the only person there on graveyard, even with 2 weeks notice, my boss was going to have a hard time finding someone to cover for me. I could see it was just killing him not to show me the door on the spot, but he WAS smart enough to realize he had a huge problem on his hands.

 

[mikehn]

I know this doesnt answer the question, but when a company wants to fire you, they fire you. They dont necessarily care about giving you two weeks notice. Having said that, I truly believe in professionalism and not burning bridges.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Where my husband works on the day that you give your two week notice is the same day that you are escorted out the door.

That's the way it is around here, too. Bottom line, if she starts work on the 18th at the new place, then what her current employer inferred or didn't infer from her notice doesn't matter. She would have been wise to state her final day in her two weeks notice.

Was this verbal notice by any chance?

 

[clh2]

He's pushing it. She was nice to give the two weeks, but it's not mandatory.

No it may not be mandatory - but again - you may need the reference in the future. I need to give 4 weeks notice - or I do not get paid any of my accrued vacation time.

 

[book_junkie]

Notice rules depends on what your state and contract says (if you have a contract). Texas is an "at will" state, so technically you can walk in and quit any job without giving notice. Is it nice? No. It is possible? Yes. In other states I've worked at, you were required to give at least two calendar weeks notice by state law.

I was always taught that the length of notice depended on the job- the higher up on the "ladder" you went, the more time you give (part time or entry level, two weeks, paraprofessional three weeks, professional four weeks, etc.)... From the OP's post, it sounds like the friend did exactly right with the two weeks of counting.

Then again, in all my letters of resignation, I've always stated my last day to work as XXXXXX. Very clearly in the nicest terms possible to not burn bridges in case I need to come back- all the letters are filed in HR.

I definitely agree that if it's not going to cause problems with the new job and will cause the friend to loose an important reference to finish out what the boss wants. If it's not possible, maybe see if there's any way the friend can get someone to cover the shift so the boss doesn't have to find coverage?