Resignation Notice

[Anonymous]

If you are resigning, how much notice should you give your employer? Let's say you've worked there for 16 years....4 weeks, 3 weeks, 2 weeks?

[anon789]

Two weeks. Everyone is less valuable than they think they are, and I've never seen problems with this at any level.

If they absolutely gotta have you longer than that, require they pay you large consulting rates. I've seen that happen before as well.

[Anonymous]

Certainly you should not feel like you have to give more notice than the minimum that they promise you will receive in the event they terminate you.

[Minerva]

Offer a minimum of 2 weeks, 4 if you can swing it with your new employer.

Be aware, depending on a lot of circumstances (company culture, the environment you're leaving, project status, etc. etc. etc.), you may be asked to leave earlier than your notice (in 2 weeks instead of 4, today instead of 2 weeks). People are frequently surprised by this. Of course, you may also be asked to stay a little longer (people are not normally surprised by this one).

Also, before you give your notice, check into transition rules for any benefits (health, pension, 401(K))to be sure you have yourself covered with regard to any notice issues.

[Anonymous]

Well, I'd give more than two weeks if it's feasible. Why risk burning bridges or leaving a bad taste in someone's mouth if it can be avoided ?

[Vincent Vega]

I gave three weeks because I thought it would be the polite thing to do and because my company is in dire need of consultants. However, because I was going to a competitor they asked me to leave the same day. It was also the company policy only to pay for two weeks - in essence I got a two week paid vacation.

So don't get too hung up about these things -just give a two week notice and if they want you to stay longer then they will ask you to do so. Then its really up to you to decide if you want to or not.

Whatever you do - make sure you also have a resignation letter handy. Its always best to have things in writing.

[Troy McClure]

You always give them two weeks, initially. If you are flexible, then put in your resignation letter that your last day will be "March 1, 2002, or on another mutually agreeable date". Then, let them come talk to you if they want.

And, definitely, be prepared when you give notice, for your boss to walk you back to your desk for you to gather your personal belongings and walk you out the door. When I have given notice, I had my personal stuff all at home. That includes personal files on your computer (including email address book), any professional books that you paid for (or they paid for but you don't think you should need to return), etc.

[Anonymous]

But if I start gathering all my personal things and taking them home, my boss will wonder. I have lots of things hanging on my cubicle walls. If they disappear, he would notice. I could say I'm redecorating...

[Anonymous]

I think he just means to gather up stuff you wouldn't want (or be able to) retrieve while they're ready to walk you out. I don't think pics on your cubicle wall would qualify as anything awkward.

[E. Blackadder]

Sadly you have to be prepared to be evicted at once. At any level. Some companies are real jerks about this. Some aren't. And you won't necessarily know how your case will be treated until you submit your resignation notice.

Leave your wall art up. That's not an issue. Neither is your toothbrush.

But if an item is yours and if it's printed on paper, then take it out first. Discreetly.

[urysohn]

Don't be the lame duck who's given 4 weeks notice. Two weeks should be enough time to get projects cleared up enough that somebody else can take them over. And if they want you to leave sooner, then so be it. But otherwise your biggest job in the middle of that 4th week might be running out for coffee.

[Anonymous]

In my first actuarial job, salaried employees were required to give 4 weeks notice. Otherwise, any accrued vacations we have will not be paid. It wasn't bad. I actually had work to do until the last day.

[Anonymous]

At my job, someone in a rather unique position gave his notice, then got about a week's worth of counter-offers, *after* which the announcement was made. Four weeks after *that*, he was gone. The main reason he had so long was that he had to train one of us regarding what the heck he did over there. He actually was still training on his second-to-last day.

Chances are, our boss asked him to stay an extra couple of weeks. He had probably given the standard 2 weeks on his resignation letter.

[42]

If you are leaving a higher-level job after having worked at the company for several years and you are leaving on friendly terms, you will be more inclined to give more notice (and the company may be more inclined to accept it). Still, I think Troy McClure's advice is best: give two weeks, but let them know that you can be flexible if they want you to stay longer. I gave three weeks notice at my last job, and still had more than enough to do before I left, working until 8 P.M. the last two nights just to get things cleaned up and passed on to other people before I left. (But then I left on very good terms, and I continued to do some consulting work for the company after I left.) Bashful's point about not burning bridges is very important. Remember to ask yourself: How will I feel if the company I just left acquires or merges with my new company next year? It happens a lot more frequently than you think!

[42]

On 2002-02-21 12:56, Bashful wrote: I think he just means to gather up stuff you wouldn't want (or be able to) retrieve while they're ready to walk you out.
On 2002-02-21 13:09, E. Blackadder wrote: But if an item is yours and if it's printed on paper, then take it out first. Discreetly.Why is it that, when you guys say this, the first thing that comes to my mind is porno magazines that you have hidden in your desk?? :blush:

[WWSituation]

Also, remember that this profession is like a twisted inbred family.

Everybody has worked everywhere at some point in time. Paths will always cross....especially the ones you wish won't and you're sure won't.

[Anonymous]

I left my last employer with 3.5 weeks notice, my new company has been acquired and my old company called me to see if I would like to come back to work for them.

Give a reasonable amount of notice and don't burn any bridges, you never know what the future may bring.

[Lee Mellon]

First Anon - I had that happen once also! Weird company. As it turned out, I gave my 4 weeks notice on April 1. My boss took some convincing.

[E. Blackadder]

And exactly how do you know about the porno magazines hidden in our desks? :oops:

Of course, by "porno" I mean "Future Fellows." :razz:

[42]

You forget that I know all and see all. :eek:

[E. Blackadder]

On 2002-02-21 15:43, 42 wrote:
It happens a lot more frequently than you think!

It does.

I know a guy who interviewed for the top actuarial position at another company. (He didn't accept an offer.) This company was then bought by his firm. He asked the firm that the interview records be destroyed.

[Pub Guy]

I thought I'd be nice to a former employer and gave 3 or 4 weeks, I don't remember for sure. I had my study time zapped immediately, which means I basically lost 1 to 2 weeks of study time. Not smart in hindsight.

[Macroman]

On 2002-02-22 12:02, E. Blackadder wrote:

On 2002-02-21 15:43, 42 wrote:
It happens a lot more frequently than you think!

It does.

I know a guy who interviewed for the top actuarial position at another company. (He didn't accept an offer.) This company was then bought by his firm. He asked the firm that the interview records be destroyed.

[Anonymous]

On 2002-02-21 15:43, 42 wrote: How will I feel if the company I just left acquires or merges with my new company next year? It happens a lot more frequently than you think!My own advice just came back to me, in a way. I just heard that our company is selling one of our subsidiaries to a company that I used to work for. Geez, it's like finding out that your wife has just become best friends with your ex-lover! :eek:

[42]

That was me above. I forgot to log in.