To Give Notice Or Nor To Give Notice. That Is The Question.

I recently read an article about giving notice to employers when you are going to leave their employment. The article actually covered most of the basic territory of this subject, but I just wanted to give my two cents worth. My response is...it all depends.

Quite honestly I truly feel that when you are going to a new job you should just cut ties and go. It's much like divorce. You each go your separate ways. You are unhappy with your mate and you want to find somebody that suits you better. I'm sure it's better if you remain friends, but unless your looking to leave the door open for a return. It is probably best to close the door.

Most companies that you give your two weeks notice to will ask you why and then ask you what day your last day will be on. Then if at all possible they will have you replaced before you start your shift that day. Then they will tell you if you want to leave, you can go ahead and leave today. It's sorta like firing you. If you say that your job doesn't start for two weeks, what are they going to say? Probably that you need to go now. Well that would be firing you. Then you should be able to collect unemployment for the time you are not working. So out of your own sense of professionalism you get fired. When you apply for a new job they want to know if you will give them two weeks notice when you are about to leave, but they won't allow you to work out those two weeks. Doesn't that seem like a bit of a double standard?

Another aspect to consider is whether or not they give notice to their employees when they are laying people off or firing them. If they are requiring notice from you, shouldn't you get it from them? Seems reasonable to me. Or do they give severence if they fire or lay off? Maybe that is one of those questions you should ask them in an interview. But as job seekers we are too afraid to ask the difficult questions. We feel that that question is too off-putting. But isn't it valid? Employment is a two way street. Before you get married don't you want to know all of the ins and outs of the person you are going to marry?

Now on the other hand, maybe you want a recommendation from your boss. Maybe you don't want people to give you a bad reputation in your industry. Then you are obligated to give them two weeks notice. I would still have a backup plan for whatever their reaction would be.

In the end I say there is nothing like throwing something across the room and saying "I quit you mother #$%#^@&" and marching out of the room to thunderous applause!!!