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View Full Version : ethics of giving 2 weeks notice?


Marlow
08-09-2005, 02:44 PM
I'm in a job where I'm working on many long-term projects simultaneously. I'm almost solely responsible for all of them. I'm leaving my job soon and I'd like to know if in your opinion you think it's Ok to only give 2 weeks notice. I've always given more elsewhere, but it would help me a lot if I only gave 2 weeks here.

I've been in the job for 2 and 1/2 years.

Thanks,

Marlow

HopeydaFish
08-09-2005, 02:48 PM
If your employers have been fair to you while you were employed by them and you can possibly give them more notice than just the two weeks, you should give them more notice.

Ultimately, you need to do what's best for you. However, keep in mind that if you only give them 2 weeks notice and this hurts their business as a result, you probably won't be able to use them as a reference later on. This might hurt your future prospects. In this case, giving them more than 2 weeks notice would be in *your* best interests as well.

Hal 2000
08-09-2005, 02:48 PM
2 weeks OFFICIAL notice is the standard, but what I'd do is if you have a certain supervisor that you respect, drop a hint to them that you're giving notice soon.

M2d
08-09-2005, 02:49 PM
can you give the two weeks and offer to come back as a consultant to help transition your projects? a little back breaking, but it's win-win.

Indiana
08-09-2005, 02:52 PM
Oh dude, I have a friend going through this same thing right now. First of all, it totally depends on whether or not you have told your boss that you are swamped with work. Nothing wrong with 2 weeks notice, just dont spring your quitting on your boss without letting them know that you are unhappy far in advance of writing the resignation letter. Simply put, they deserve a chance to try and mediate the situation and it looks bad on them when you quit abruptly. Talk to your boss about this and if it cannot be made better, then give ur 2 wks notice.

Just my 2 cents, Indy

[censored]
08-09-2005, 02:55 PM
sure it is ethical and I mean if it is just a job who cares as long as your ethical.

However if you have a personal relationship with your boss of coworkers that you would like to maintain then I for one would try and do whatever I could to make it as easy on them. This may require giving a more than 2 week advance notice.

djoyce003
08-09-2005, 03:12 PM
I think this is really company dependent. I worked for a company that would lay people off and not even give them 2 weeks severance....they would call em in, fire em, and make em box up their crap and walk em out...they got paid for that day only...no 2 weeks. I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty about giving a company like that 0 weeks notice.

However, if you work for a company that tends to treat people fairly and all that, I would give them at least 2 weeks...possibly more. Remember, 2 weeks is all you owe them because it is likely all you would get. As long as you give them 2 weeks they can't really hold a grudge. Other important considerations...if you are going to work for a competitor, your company might escort you out the day you give your notice so I wouldn't do it more than 2 weeks in advance or else you could be out of work for longer than you were thinking, etc. At my company, if you go to work for a competitor, they try to talk you out of it, then if they can't, they escort you out that very day, so that is something to consider.

CardSharpCook
08-09-2005, 03:14 PM
I have a different perspective coming from the restaurant industry.

First, you can be fired on a whim. That is, you come into work on Friday, and just after you finish cleaning up, the manager comes over and says, "hey buddy, don't come back tomorrow." So if you can be fired on a whim, why not quit on a whim? In fact, I've never known of an instance in which someone was told they were being replaced and then worked another minute at any restaurant I've ever worked at. (except for the girl who just didn't "get it" that she was fired. She came back the next day after being thrown out of the kitchen the night before. Oh, drama....)

Second, your employers hate thinking about an impending turnover. If they know you are leaving in a month, they'll start looking tomorrow. Waiting tables once, I gave the owner 4 weeks notice. Two weeks later I hire my own replacement and then her first day, I get a phone call from the owner saying, "I've re-written the schedule, and you're not on it." Thanks, buddy, I can afford to be without work for these two weeks... I don't have any moving expenses or anything.

Third, it creates disharmony for your remaining time. Everyone knows you're about to leave, the boss is thinking about it, new people are coming in to audition for the job. Just bad things, man.

In conclusion, give them two weeks notice. No more, no less.

CSC

HopeydaFish
08-09-2005, 03:30 PM
This is really industry-dependant. If you're working a low skill, low paying job, two weeks notice is all you really need to give. The company can find someone else to replace you in the two weeks. These service industry jobs are also more likely to screw you over when you're kind enough to give them notice.

If you're working in a job that requires specialized skills (which I believe is the case with the OP), 2 weeks might not be long enough to find a suitable replacement. With these jobs, if you are able to give more than 2 weeks' notice, it is preferable. These companies are also less likely to play games with you than the service industry jobs are.

Marlow
08-09-2005, 03:39 PM
Yep, you need a master's degree to do what I do. I like my boss and other coworkers, but I can't wait to get the hell outta here.

Seems like I should do more than 2 weeks if I can, tho.

As always, 2+2 pulls through with good advice.

*sigh*

Marlow

durron597
08-09-2005, 03:47 PM
[ QUOTE ]
can you give the two weeks and offer to come back as a consultant to help transition your projects? a little back breaking, but it's win-win.

[/ QUOTE ]

Especially since they pay your more $ since they stop giving you benefits.

Marlow
08-09-2005, 03:53 PM
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
can you give the two weeks and offer to come back as a consultant to help transition your projects? a little back breaking, but it's win-win.

[/ QUOTE ]

Especially since they pay your more $ since they stop giving you benefits.

[/ QUOTE ]

unfortunately, not an option.

HopeydaFish
08-09-2005, 04:02 PM
Yeah, I've worked as a programmer for the last 4 years for a few different companies. Whenever I left each company they'd always ask me how long I could stay on, and whether I could get my work done on whatever project I was working on. One place even asked me if I could recommend a replacement. It was always very professional. They were smart enough to realize that if the other employees saw me being treated badly, the other employees would realize that they'd be treated the same way in the same circumstances. This isn't good for loyalty or morale.

I compare this to some of the sales jobs I had when I first left school. In one place I gave my two week's notice and offered to stay on longer if they wanted me to (my new job was only starting in a month). Instead, they marched me out the door an hour later. They gave me two weeks' severance, though, so it was win-win for me.

NutzyClutz
08-09-2005, 09:24 PM
Provided nothing is stated in the company manual. Give as much notice as you want. If your worried about being booted once you announce your intentions, just give notice that final morning. Write up something ahead of time documenting the status of all your work. Its your BOSSES job to make sure his people are not irreplacable.

arod15
08-09-2005, 09:35 PM
Do what is best for you. I also try to be decent by giving my former firm a month instead of a weak. they then told me to leave that friday (four days later) which totally [censored] me. I then got put in a little bit of debt. The business world knows little about ethics and loyalty so you owe them equally little.

BadBoyBenny
08-09-2005, 09:36 PM
Projects can be transitioned, no matter how difficult it seems. If they can't, that is not your fault. Your supervisor should be prepared for a situation where you end up in a car accident or win the lottery or something that would end your employment sonner than 2 weeks. I was in a simliar position about a month ago and took an internal reassignment due to someone else quitting. I had several long term projects where I was the exclusive knowledge owner but we managed to transition it all. The quality of work will drop in the short to mid term, but life goes on.

Anyway, you should give as much notice as possible in your situation but do nothing that will compromise your own interests. If you already know you will be leaving, you might as well spill the beans and start working on transistion activites. Also, I don't think you need to worry about refernces if you give two or more weeks and have been and continue to be professional for the rest of your tenure.

OrangeCat
08-09-2005, 11:05 PM
In your case, probably not. Give as little notice as you can without burning your bridges. Never burn the bridges behind you.

Marlow
08-10-2005, 08:20 AM
I'm in a bit of a strange position, actually. I have an excellent lead on a job, but it's not a done deal yet. If it comes through, I might be forced into a situation where I'll only be able to give 2 weeks.

Is anyone here suggesting that I tell them I intend on leaving before I'm secure in my next job? I wouldn't think so, but I thought I'd ask.

Marlow

HopeydaFish
08-10-2005, 10:11 AM
[ QUOTE ]
I'm in a bit of a strange position, actually. I have an excellent lead on a job, but it's not a done deal yet. If it comes through, I might be forced into a situation where I'll only be able to give 2 weeks.

Is anyone here suggesting that I tell them I intend on leaving before I'm secure in my next job? I wouldn't think so, but I thought I'd ask.

Marlow

[/ QUOTE ]

No, there's no good reason for you to do this. If you don't get the other job and end up having to stay at your current one, your employer now thinks of you as having one foot out the door and no longer a "team player".

Only tell them about the other job if you have a concrete offer in place.

djoyce003
08-10-2005, 10:35 AM
never tell them about the other job until you have a firm offer that you've accepted. Doing anything else is a good way to be unemployed.

Marlow
08-10-2005, 10:37 AM
that's what I thought. i just wanted to know if anyone was suggesting that.

thanks

Marlow

AnyAce
08-10-2005, 10:50 AM
I have worked as a consultant/investment banker for past 10 years or so. I quit two jobs over the years where I thought I was being treated badly. However, on the advice of some good friends I avoided burning bridges (as badly as I wanted to) and have received referrals to new clients from these former employers and wound up teaming up with a former boss to form our own firm.

I definitely would not give notice until the other job offer is firm. A friend is going through a similar process, new employer was very into him, made him an offer, but then rescinded it temporarily, while they "adjust their headcount".

If you get the offer, tell the new employer you would like to start in 3 weeks and see if that flies. If not, tell current employer that you will be able to answer questions after you leave via email/phone for a few days to help with transition (even if they don't pay you). It will leave them witha more favorable impression of you and you never know when you might run across them again.

Good luck,
AA

Jersey Nick
08-10-2005, 12:26 PM
[ QUOTE ]
If you get the offer, tell the new employer you would like to start in 3 weeks and see if that flies. If not, tell current employer that you will be able to answer questions after you leave via email/phone for a few days to help with transition (even if they don't pay you). It will leave them witha more favorable impression of you and you never know when you might run across them again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good points, AA. Moreover I would make sure in the negotiations for the new gig you get a clear understanding of when they need to have the position filled. If they say anything less than two weeks you should make it clear to them that you are managing X number of projects and that it may take slightly longer to transition them to your replacement. This helps you because it makes you look like a team player to the potential employer and that you aren't willing to screw your former employer over.

Should they come back and say "we need you to start next week or you can't have the job", think very carefully about taking it. Do you want to work for a company that wants you to screw over your former employer?

Be very careful about agreeing to moonlight consulting (free or paid) with the old company. Most everywhere you go now you are an employee at will - you can be fired at any time without cause. If you aren't up front about consulting for the former employer, the new employer might get wind of it and boot your ass out the door. If the new company needs you in two weeks and the old company needs you to help out via Email and phone - make sure both companies are aware of it so You don't get screwed.

My 2 cents,
Nick