Would you give 2 weeks notice?

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Atta boy. Another one with balls. I've never given notice in my life for the few dozen jobs where I actually pulled a paycheck. In fact, most of the time I just didn't go in. When they call, I say why I'm not there. It was usually for a very good reason and I was cool with that. Don't care how they felt. The music stopped and I was on the train.

I guess I've lived my life like a cowboy at the rodeo. You either ride or fall off. If you fall off no one is gonna help you load your horse on the trailer. On to the next rodeo.

Zeke-few here can match you for words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stealthn]

Give notice otherwise i take your holiday pay

[azasadny]

Very timely thread!

[syncroid]

The last job I left, I gave two months notice. I did my job just as I always did up to the minute I left. They even gave me a going away party. I too don't believe in burning bridges. I'm still on good terms with all of my ex bosses.

[Dantilla]

Caution!!

Some give prospective hires their first test by asking if they would leave their current employer immediately.

If the answer is "Yes" you will not be hired as you have proven you have no loyalty to the one who hands out paychecks on a regular basis..

[looneybin]

most employers will walk you out the day you give notice so you don't have time to copy proprietary info and take it to the competitor.

Just give your 2 weeks on your last day & hope they walk you out that day so you can get the extra 2 weeks pay. Otherwise give your 2 weeks then just don't show up anymore

Kali( i don't know about your state) is an "at will" employment state & if you are layed off, you wont get any notice

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

If the answer is "Yes" you will not be hired as you have proven you have no loyalty to the one who hands out paychecks on a regular basis..

How about a counter-question for the interviewer: "Five years from now, I've got a mortgage and a kid on the way when you discover you can save a ton of money outsourcing this job to India. What should I expect from you?"

Loyalty is a two-way street (unless you're in the armed services ).

[aigel]

Always give 2 weeks notice.

Many of you are very bitter. It is an abstract "they" that do things to you and the "company". What you do not see is that you have a direct supervisor, coworkers or even subordinates that may suffer if you suddenly disappear. It is those people you worry about. Those are the people you may see again in the future. Especially today, when it is so easy to stay in touch and keep track (and take care) of one-another.

Okay, and now let's talk about what "they" do when it is lay-off time. Your supervisor is generally not the one who decides how much notice or severance you get. Your line manager is probably at least as upset as the rest of the staff about losing team members - after all, what is he or she going to do without a team?

Finally, why do companies walk you out when you resign? You already mentioned the fear of taking information or goods. What you did not mention is the possibility of sabotage - directly or indirectly. Have you seen what a person can do on their way out to morale if they stop being productive and shoot the breeze just complaining about the company for 2 weeks? And of course there is the danger that they start recruiting on their way out as well. So, getting walked out is nothing personal, it is the professional thing to do from the company side - of course giving you 2 week's pay.

George

[cstreit]

I guess it's actually fair considering most people are "employee's at will" meaning they can fire you on the spot for no reason...

That said, sometimes we have to balance what is right and knowing what may come back and do you more harm over time. My industry is so incestuous that it would be a bad idea to burn bridges...

...but then some people light their path by the bridges they burn behind them.

[biosurfer1]

I never understood the "walk you out the door that day" mentality for employers. If you were going sabotage something, do they really think you wouldn't have already done it when you give notice?!

I thought it was interesting how "matter of fact" the guy was about it. He may have been hiding something but he told my friend he was in no way angry or bitter, just felt why should the company be given a courtesy they wouldn't return if the roles were reversed.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by aigel

Finally, why do companies walk you out when you resign? You already mentioned the fear of taking information or goods. What you did not mention is the possibility of sabotage - directly or indirectly. Have you seen what a person can do on their way out to morale if they stop being productive and shoot the breeze just complaining about the company for 2 weeks? And of course there is the danger that they start recruiting on their way out as well. So, getting walked out is nothing personal, it is the professional thing to do from the company side - of course giving you 2 week's pay.

The companies I've seen walk someone out immediately after receiving notice don't give them the 2 weeks pay, not that I've seen - your last check has whatever hours you've got coming when you hit the parking lot, and someone from HR sends you a packet explaining how to transfer your 401k, your final pension status, and other blatherskite. And if you resign, you lose any vacation days you had pending so you might want to do what I've seen some people do - use the last of your days, then call and say you won't be back.

As for the impact on your co-workers and immediate supervisor, speaking as management where I work, I disagree. If losing one team member suddenly throws everything into chaos, that's on me; it should be no more disruptive than someone calling in sick for a week. I'd expect the employee to do what's right for them and their family - the same way the company will do what's right for their shareholders.

It's not being bitter - it's realizing that this is just business, for both parties.

[Bobbi66]

While I worked for a decent guy for 18 years in the health profession, his philosophy was 1 bad apple spoiled the whole damn bunch and if notice was given he would tell them to just leave then and there. Made it harder on us for a period of time but... he the boss.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I never understood the "walk you out the door that day" mentality for employers. If you were going sabotage something, do they really think you wouldn't have already done it when you give notice?!

Read my post? I mention a lot more reasons in there.

Your buddy is not very smart as in social intelligence. I have seen many peers literally hate the quitters for letting everyone hanging. They specifically were not inviting them into a new job elsewhere later on.

G

[look 171]

Nine years ago, my wife was laid off one morning when she walked into her office. She was head hunted to clean up some big accounts and keep them going. It took her about 5 years. The week she was let go, they had her train a new girl to push papers and keep the accounts going. She had two weeks and was told to finish the training. I got the phone call from her about the situation, and I told her to tell her boss that was her last minute and leave immediately. He got upset and request that she stay and finish with the new accounts and close the deal. He demanded that she finish training the new girl. She turned around and said keep your two weeks pay and walked. For the next few days, our phone was ringing off the hook with questions from her office. I had to grab the phone and deal with her boss. I told him that she was now a consultant and there will be a min. charge for phone calls to the house. Her fees were $250 per hour. He didn't deal with that well and was freaking scream at me because he now has to pick up where she left off. He had no clue how things work. I say screw them unless they treated you fairly. Edit, we had kids after that and she's a stay home mom now.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by aigel

Always give 2 weeks notice.

Many of you are very bitter. It is an abstract "they" that do things to you and the "company". What you do not see is that you have a direct supervisor, coworkers or even subordinates that may suffer if you suddenly disappear. It is those people you worry about. Those are the people you may see again in the future. Especially today, when it is so easy to stay in touch and keep track (and take care) of one-another.

ALWAYS??? Sorry, but I disagree, and you can't possibly be serious when you say "always give 2 weeks notice" without knowing the specifics of unique situations. In hindsight, it was undoubtedly the best career move "I" ever made. As someone else stated, "loyalty is a two-way street"... and there is virtually NONE in corporate america anymore from what I've experienced. I'm probably a bit jaded about corporate life, but certainly not bitter...life is good !

[Joe Bob]

Cya....roll a grenade down the hallway and close the door....

[VINMAN]

I guess it depends on who you work for. Smaller business, yeah id give notice.

My company ( the largest telecom in the world) gives you no notice when they let you go. 2003, they laid off a few thousand workers, on Dec 23. Merry effin Christmas! Supervisors came in that morning, asking for IDs and access cards . Not even the slightest hint that was going to happen. When they lay off management, they are told right then and there, and asked to clean out their stuff and are escorted out of the building.
So, do they deserve a two weeks notice??

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

...just treating the company like he would have been.

I gave a two week notice once, and was told to clean out my desk and leave.

I used the two weeks off to finish up some contract jobs.

Employers don't give employees two week notices, what goes around comes around I guess.

I gave a one week notice before as well. Ended up coming in at nights for the next three weeks helping out, no bridges were burned. They turned me down for a promotion and I told them I was looking for another job. I still collaborate with them 15 years later.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by aigel

Read my post? I mention a lot more reasons in there.

Your buddy is not very smart as in social intelligence. I have seen many peers literally hate the quitters for letting everyone hanging. They specifically were not inviting them into a new job elsewhere later on.

G

Read mine? It wasn't my buddy

[imcarthur]

Except for one brief interlude, I have always worked with small firms <20 where you know everybody. Yes, I always give adequate notice. Gee . . . I never knew that I was supposed to hate my employer . . . as per many on this thread.
One employer hired me 3 times over 15 years (after I quit twice) . . . I guess I got it all wrong.

Ian