How to Resign When You Can't Give Two Weeks' Notice

Reader Comments

Back to blog

When my professional employer fires me doesnt he need to give me 2 weeks notice ? . In this beautiful country the law works only in one way.

Roman of IL 6:21PM February 17, 2013

I worked at a gov agency in a startup project for over a year in a rock-bottom entry level position. I was doing an insane amount of work for 4 different supervisors total. I was constantly commended on the quality and quantity of my work. At first, I was also fed a line of bs about promotion and/or a reduced schedule so that I can work on my graduate degree. When I was ready to start school, all of a sudden they would not work with my schedule. And the promotion offer was a joke. I was at a clerk pay-grade, yet was doing a great deal of my supervisor's work (a woman who happened to be a racist, ignorant, former military shrew who could barely read and write). For example she could not write professional level correspondence or contracts, so I was assigned this work several levels above my pay grade. Fine. I don't mind learning new skills. But I also don't want to be taken advantage of. Basically, the workload, the frustration of working with my idiot primary supervisor, and lack of promotional and educational opportunity forced me to quit. I gave 2 weeks notice and they managed to pull someone from another department that I did my best to train. I cleaned up after myself and tied up loose ends before I left. And I can't get a reference from anyone at that company. I was doing so much before I quit that my leaving meant some people actually had to do some work. They wanted me to give several weeks notice. I would never have done that, because they would have taken advantage of me even more in that space of time. The more notice you give an employer, the more the ball is in their court.

I did everything right and can't get a reference from them. Since that's the case. I might as well of just left and let them slip around in their own mess.

Zezoe of AR 12:08PM January 26, 2013

Do you think you should give a 2 weeks notice when you have only been at the job for 3 days?

Serina M. of CA 11:49PM December 20, 2011

Your so-called professional reputation is based on the quality of your work, not on how well you grovel. Some people believe that any potential employee has the magical ability to find your old manager, and or team lead and interrogate them. On my planet the only thing a potential employee can ask is did Sam work there! That is unless you give them permission to do more, other than that we have a law suit on our hands. People who live in large cities tend to be the most gullible on this

Nat Turner of MD 9:40AM September 16, 2011

im soo confused, i have a question, it is ok to give your job a month notice to resign, just for the time to for my replacement, but can they fire you during the month you are leaving eventhough you submitted a resignation letter??

Cecil of LA 1:07AM August 30, 2011

I am from the UK and on a project with someone from the US who as just resigned... . They have literally walked off the job leaving us to do their work. I think it is wholly unjust that any employee can leave a job with just 2 weeks notice. In the UK we have to give a minimum of a month and in many professional jobs 3 months. I would say walking out on a project with 2 weeks notice absolutely kills any chance of me ever giving them a reference. Refusal to give a personal reference and referral to HR for a formal date of employment sheet says more about a colleague than anything...

Andy Jacobs 2:28PM May 29, 2011

What if the place where you're working at has too many employees as it is and wouldn't miss you, or need the time to find a replacement? I would think in that case they'd be grateful to have one less employee to deal with. Does this rule still apply even in that situation?

Elizabeth of TX 9:08PM July 07, 2010

do they give you 2 weeks notice when they lay you off 90% of time I dont think so my old employer work there employees like dogs they dont care and they cant give you a bad rap they only can give the date you started and date you left somebody did that to me I sued them I got $38000 and the manger was fired .

js of MI 11:36PM June 04, 2010

Please be careful because when you give this notice there are supervisors that don't know what they are doing and try to lie and set you up to get in trouble before you leave. By the way the other bosses thinks she is a saint.

joan of NY 9:08AM April 27, 2010

Different countries of teh world have different set of rules. Ours have normally one month NP. But where Im working recently... has 3 months notice period (while from company's side its just 1 month). U would be surprised to know they are NGO working for better education of under-privileged children! While on 1 hand it is a noble cause, no one (including donors) know how they are treating their employees. In todays time of less jobs, more mouths to feed, ever-increasing inflation and general restlessness, people like me have to sign the Offer Letter at any such job without considering the dark side. when we leave giving one month notice (no one can tell new employer to wait for 3 months as Ive to give this much Notice) the NGO deducts all the remaining salary and Provident Fund in lieu of short notice. The employee, at end of his/her job, leaves the company not having something in his hand but rather sometimes payable to the company! In case you are late on any 3 days of month (after 20 minutes grace time), your one day salary will be deducted. While in other organizations, Ive heard they deduct one day LEAVE, here is simply one day SALARY cut-off. No matter how late you sit to complete any given assignment.

Ejaz 12:47AM April 24, 2010

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

On Careers

Find savvy job advice from the brains behind top careers blogs, including Ask a Manager, Lindsay Olson, Keppie Careers, CareerBliss, Kontrary, Jobhuntercoach, Career Sherpa, Eat Your Career, Marty Nemko, Infusive Solutions and Marla Gottschalk.

advertisement

Slide Shows

20 Work-Life Balance Hacks

Tips that will help you get more work done and have more time to play.

Quiz: The Hottest Healthcare Jobs This Decade

Take this quiz to learn more about the best jobs for healthcare workers.

14 Must-Have Items for Any Business Trip

Make sure to pack these essentials for your next trip.

advertisement

Latest Video