Should I Really Give Two Weeks Notice?

@Erin J. thanks for your comment. Have you tried going through a recruiter or a temp agency? Are you just not getting responses to your job applications? It could be your resume or any other number of factors. Maybe your resume is not making it through the ATS? If that happens, then it just goes into a round file or in a data bank for 6 months and then gets discarded. You didn't mention how long you were out caring for a family member. If it was an extensive period of time, could be that your skills are outdated or at least rusty. There are so many factors that could be keeping you from getting interviews. So try that temp agency or get in touch with a recruiter in your industry. What do you have to lose? All the best.

I left a job to care for an elderly family member, my supervisor was great about it, but it is biting me in the ass with job interviews!

@Christina S so sorry that you went through that. I have never worked for a company who would treat employees with such disdain. There ARE companies out there who value a hard worker and who don't act like little children who had their best toy taken away. I think it's admirable of you to give that two week notice the second time - after what happened the first time. Legally, they can't hold your pay check and, legally, they couldn't keep you from getting hired elsewhere! They can give you a bad review - that is true. But, when you are looking for a reference, look at one of your coworkers not at the higher ups. And, start thinking about how you are going to spin this in your next interview. You don't want to show your anger or distaste towards your former company as that won't get you a new job. The world is so small today that you can figure someone at the new company knows someone at your former company. I have to say that I have never encountered a company that acted this way. I have put in notices and they were accepted, with grace. In most cases I was asked what it would take for me to stay, not threatened or had my pay held - both of which are illegal. All the best in your search for that next great company.

I did give two weeks notice and I regret doing it. The first time my bosses got so mad , they threatened me with having to pay them back for education costs and even tho I worked till the last day they never pad me my last paycheck saying that I owe them .. I know this is illegal but I was so shocked about HR's behavior, she actually yelled at me and threatened me, that I never ask for my money! Big mistake. The second time I gave notice I was at a breaking point , physically sick and mentally stressed out , I obtained a doctors note for the whole two weeks and was told I still had to work two weeks or I was not eligible for rehire! I told HR about my problem and to this day don't know if I could get rehired. They never answered me. So , hopefully I don't need to put in a resignation again , instead find a job that values a hard worker and doesn't exploit this .

@Kerry S thanks for your comment. So sorry that you had to go through that. I am guessing that they never offered up a "why" attached to that pink slip. That makes it even harder and the anger stays even longer. The best thing to do is push it back and move on. There's not going to be an answer as to the why. I agree that companies should have a better plan than to take you to a back room, hand you a pink slip and then escort you from the building but that's the way of things now. At least they did it in private whereas some companies just say - sorry but we are reorganizing and you are not in the reorganization. Please gather up your things and leave now. We will be in touch in a few days and have one of our HR assist you in moving forward. But honestly - there is no easy way to tell an employee that he/she is being let go. All the best @Kerry S.

I was laid off from a religious organization with nothing but a call to a back office and a statement that I was being laid off. This was one of the most hurtful experiences in my working life which has spanned over thirty years. I lashed out at a friend who had helped me so much because I accused her of knowing this was going to happen and not giving me a heads up. She may or may not knew, but I regret that to this day. I believe that I did it because I was angry and didn't know how to react to the abrupt notice to leave right then and there. I was humiliated and I felt rejection. I do not understand how a professional organization would not know a better way to layoff their employees. My suggestion would be to plan better and have other options besides a back room and a "leave now" statement. The feeling of rejection is one that takes some time to get over while you still have to start looking for that next job.

@Chris Knapp thanks for your comment. Wow - truly unfortunate that your former boss would act that way. He should have been grateful for the notice and he also should have asked why you were leaving and if there was anything that he could do to change your mind. Sounds like he took your notice personally. It would be nice if companies would give workers notice when they are planning to lay them off but I don't see that happening any time soon. I once worked for a company who went through a merger. Once the dust started to settle from all of the excitement, pink slips started appearing. For weeks, on a Friday afternoon, people would be called into a room to be given their pink slips. Then they were escorted from the building - no goodbyes - no communication at all was allowed between the displaced worker and those of us still hanging in. It was a terrible way to do things - so much stress on those of us who were still there. Many of my coworkers made the decision to leave on their own instead of getting a pink slip. After seeing this happen for several weeks, I decided that I was not going to be one of those who got a pink slip so I gave my notice and moved on to bigger and better things. My boss understood as he was concerned about holding on to his job!

The first time I gave 2 weeks notice my boss said "if you want to leave then you can leave NOW!". I honestly did not expect that from him; I really thought he was a decent sort.....oh well. I wish companies would give their workers two weeks notice when their job ends so we can also prepare for the transition.

Thanks for the great comments. @David it is professional courtesy to give two or more weeks notice. The unfortunate part is that some companies will tell you that the notice is not necessary and will terminate you on the spot. @Margaret Packard in today's world, not very many companies value their employees. They figure that if you don't want to work there, that there are thousands of others who would. @Violet Duncan so sorry to hear what happened to you. Working for a bipolar boss certainly has its challenges. Since you worked for two bosses, you could ask the other one to be a reference. Now, when you get to an interview for a new position, NEVER bad-mouth the bipolar boss. @Daniel B that's truly great advice. Companies value employees who can be flexible.

I was always told you should in case your new job doesn't work out and you might need to go back, if they'll let you.

These experiences sound so awful! Is there any way to find a company that still values employees and treats them with respect? What should I be looking for in my job search?

I worked for a Tile and Granite Co for 2 years. I loved my job. I was not quitting my job, I was fired. This company is in Financial crisis, not paying taxes etc, but I stood with this company. My husband kept pushing me to look for another job, but I did not. But most of all, the owner of this company is very Bi-Polar. He ran hot and cold all day. Employees would run and hide from him. On the day I was fired I made 2 mistakes, 1 was out of my control and the 2nd one was due to having 2 bosses tell me "how much to cut a check". But more importantly him being bi-polar, he did a psychological number on my mind. Since leaving him I am slowing recovering. However when I do start looking for another job I can only image the reference he will give me.

Depends on the situation and the employer. When taking another job,I am usually asked,"Do you intend to give 2 weeks notice at current employer?" I usually respond with,"I would like to as a courtesy, but if you need me sooner,please let me know and I would like to know if I would have the option to start sooner if I am terminated by my current employer once I give my 2 weeks notice." Most prospective new employers would definitely see that as not only a positive attitude,but also see that you have thought it through and are not just making a rash or "spur of the moment" decision.

@Thomas Hayward thank you ever so much for that comment. I totally agree that professional courtesy dictates a two-week notice. I have never left a company right on the spot. I have always given notice and I, too, have received counter offers to stay. But, if you have truly decided to leave, there has to be a reason and throwing more money at it doesn't always resolve it. If I am leaving because my pay has been stagnate, then maybe an increase would make me rethink. But, in my case, if I leave a company, it's because I have gone as far as I can or because I am just burnt out and more money isn't going to change that.

While there are a few jerks out there that may take advantage of the situation, the majority of companies really appreciate the two weeks notice and consider it a common professional courtesy. Also, you must consider that if you quit without notice, you will not get a good recommendation from anyone at the company or be rehired by that company if you change your mind, because your boss and co-workers will not appreciate having to pick up your workload on short notice. You can't control what other people do, but you always have the choice of whether or not you conduct yourself professionally. The business community is a tight group and leaders talk to each other. When in doubt, take the high road and give the two weeks. You may be pleasantly surprised with a counter offer from the company to keep you. This has happened to me on two occasions so far.

Thanks for the comments. @Phillip U. -sadly these companies can hide behind the "right to work" law. They don't have to give you any notice which I find VERY wrong. @Joni P sorry that your former company did that to you. Makes me sick when I see companies acting that way. They should be grateful that you gave them 4 weeks notice. That was just pure pettiness on their part. But don't let that keep YOU from being a professional. It is always better to give 2 weeks notice, if you can - just out of professional courtesy. And you never know - a year or two down the road you might want to go back to the company. Life has a way of throwing unexpected curves at us. So please don't let the attitudes of one company keep you from acting in the right way.

Those are things that I would not have thought of. Very good thought and point of view. Always weighing the options is key to remaining sane in this viscous job market.

I was employed for 9 years with my last company. Had just had my yearly review received a good one and a pay increase as I did every year. Had decided to move to another state and not stay with the company. I gave my supervisor 4 weeks notice as I was the head of my department and felt I owe them . Well a week later I was written up for something crazy and told any other infraction would result in my termination immediately or I could just quit then and move on. So going forward I will not give notice.

I always try to give notice if I am taking another job. But one in particular I could not. I remember my supervisor asking me why I wasn't giving him 2 weeks notice. So I asked him a question. If you were going to terminate me for any reason. Would you give me 2 weeks notice?

@Guillermo N it's totally up to you whether you give one week, two weeks or none at all. Sometimes our leaving is a wake-up call for the company. Maybe they didn't realize how bad things were until the employees start giving notice. @Joseph Barsky thanks. Sounds like you are speaking from personal experience. So sorry that you worked at a company that frowned upon competition. I think that healthy competition is good within a company. It allows for you to do your best work.

If you are going to a competitor, expect to be walked out immediately.

How about we compromise and meet somewhere in middle. Does one week sound ok?

Thanks for the comments. @Debra Nicholson-Basshmam in theory I agree. In reality, I could have to agree with @Dana G. In the real world we are dealing with jerks - from our supervisors up to the CEO. There is no old-school left anymore - sad to say. The days of showing respect up and down the ladder are long gone for most companies. I totally agree that we should give a two week notice so that the company can start the hiring process to fill the position as well as time for the employee to wrap things up. However, once you give notice, the word gets out quickly as @Paul Huska mentioned and the attitudes of everyone around will change. It's not the "oh we are so happy for you finding a job you love" attitude - but more of the "you are gone, we don't care about you anymore" attitude that exists once notice is put in. Now - this is not true for ALL companies but it's the same sad story that we hear all of the time. There is no farewell party like there would have been years ago. There is just a cold shoulder. Sadly @Dana G is right that many companies will just perp walk you out of the door - no wrap up, no training another person, no passing anything on - just a door slammed and you are gone. I saw it over and over again at a company that I worked for in the past. If you were brought into this room on a Friday afternoon, you knew that you were being let go. There was no time for saving files, cleaning anything up - just security escorting you to the door and telling you when you can return to pick up your "personal" items. When you returned to your work space, you would find a box sitting on the desk that contained your personal items. You would be escorted in to get your box and escorted out. No communication was allowed with any of your former co-workers, either. Now THAT is the world that we live in today.

I work at hospital, in a medium size city. Word gets out quick about your job performance and if you gave two weeks notice. If you have an HR (Human Resources) Department I suggest going to them first and explaining that you are giving the company notice and then to your supervisor.

I would like to live in the fantasy world you live in, Debra, but in the real world, jerks exist. I have had a half dozen negative "two weeks notice" experiences. From being perp walked out of the building, to being fired for "medical reasons". Never again. If i have projects they need to be wrapped up, i do it myself.