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Ask Slashdot: When Is It OK To Not Give Notice?

Posted by timothy on from the as-you-put-the-strychnine-in-the-guacamole dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Here in the U.S., 'being professional' means giving at least two week's notice when leaving a job. Is this an outmoded notion? We've all heard stories about (or perhaps experienced) a quick escort to the parking lot upon giving the normal notice, and I've never heard of a company giving a two-week notice to an employee that's being laid off or fired. A generation ago, providing a lengthy notice was required to get a glowing reference, but these days does a reference hold water any more? Once you're reached the point where you know it's time to leave, under what circumstances would you just up and walk out or give only a short notice?"

9 of 892 comments (clear)

  1. When you don't want a reference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No notice is probably the biggest middle finger you can give a company and still remain within the bounds of the law.

    1. Re:When you don't want a reference by noh8rz10 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think if you don't give notice then it raises red flags for your new employer. You could tell your new employer you'll start in two weeks, then tell your current employer to eff off, and then take two weeks for yourself (unpaid). But industries are so small that why would you want to burn bridges?

    2. Re:When you don't want a reference by HornWumpus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You got fucked. They owed you the vacation time anyhow. Basically they told you GTF out and didn't pay you for your notice time.

      Basically what you should expect.

      You should give that employer a thumbs down if anybody you know ever considers working there. References do work both ways.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    3. Re:When you don't want a reference by Dishevel · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Being a good person is something that will always be good for you. Being an asshole because you can not see any immediate ramifications of your poor decision does not make it a good one.

      --
      Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
  2. Respectable thing to do... by singhulariti · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I gave my 2 week notice last week because I have no complaints from this place and thought I should be considerate and tie up all the loose ends before I left.

  3. Whenever you know they won't give you a reference by ModernGeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If your employer isn't going to give you a positive reference, or has been negligent in their treatment of you or your fellow employees, then your two weeks notice is a privilege that they gave up.

    --
    Sig: I stole this sig.
  4. Burning bridges by sjbe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think if you don't give notice then it raises red flags for your new employer.

    If you already have a new employer then why would it raise flags? They've already hired you and (probably) have no idea what sort of circumstances you plan to leave your old employer under unless you have informed them and that would be pretty dumb to do.

    But industries are so small that why would you want to burn bridges?

    Sometimes bridges are worth burning. Not a good idea as a general practice I'll concur but if someone came to me and said I'll triple your salary, you'll work with nice people and you get to work 20 hours a week I'd consider burning a few bridges for that. I've also had the "pleasure" of working for a few real douchebags and those are bridges I wouldn't mind burning either.

    1. Re:Burning bridges by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Both employee and employer should always leave bridges intact. You never know what the future will be. I have re-hired several "boomerangs" that left, found out the grass wasn't greener over the fence, and asked to come back. Unlike other new hires, they require no training, and often return with a new attitude, and new perspectives. I have also had many good referrals from ex-employes. Every summer we even have an "alumni reunion BBQ" in a local park to keep the network alive. Employee turnover is a fact of life. Treating it as a betrayal is idiotic. Just accept it and make the most of it.

  5. Presume no notice will be given by sjbe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If I'm the hiring person and you don't give your current employer notice then I'll assume that you are a snake and will do the same to me later, regardless of whether I would need knowledge transition at that point.

    You SHOULD assume that any employee might not give you notice. Sometimes employees aren't able to give you notice because they fall ill. Sometimes they get an opportunity and have to act on it immediately. Sometimes things just don't work out between the company and the employee. Plan accordingly. I run a small manufacturing company and I assure you that two weeks notice makes little practical difference. It's certainly not enough to find and train an adequate replacement and if you cannot gracefully transition that person's work then management screwed up bad. In my case that means *I* screwed up since I'm the boss.

    The two weeks notice thing is nice and courteous but if someone is leaving without prior notice the first place you should look if you want to know why is in the mirror. I've walked out of jobs without any notice and I assure you that it was because of the unprofessional behavior of those I worked for. It doesn't necessarily mean they are a "snake" but what it does mean is that you have a poor understanding of what at-will employment really means.

    How sure are you that you won't ever want the old job as a reference? I've been surprised at how well some older references have worked for me.

    I've been in the workforce for about 25 years now. A good reference is NEVER a company. It is a person you know. It is impossible for a company to have a personal relationship with you or to know you. It is always a close colleague or someone I had a good personal relationship with who provided the references. Whether I gave two weeks notice or not has never once been a factor.