Something to consider

[Rantsylvania 6-5000]

This article is 5 years old, but still relevant, I think. I found it very interesting.

http://wistechnology.com/articles/1757/

There are a LOT of comments, and most of them are quite good.

[Racket_Man]

I never did get the whole "I AM EXPECTED/required (by "professional standards") to give notice, but the company can do what it pleases????

most of the time I got "walked out" when leaving a job, meaning they let ME go almost as soon as I walked in (Ususally on a Monday morning). at least most of the time they let me collect my personal stuff in a box first.

only once did I do the "I am putting in notice but I would like to be gone today" thing. and boy AM I glad I did. 2 weeks later the systems I was overseeing crashed/stopped working/got corrupted. I found out through the grapevine all was blamed on me (nice scapegoat there). the company (a home mortgage division of a bank) was tanking in the mid 90's and my boss was trying to keep her job anyway she could and made life hell for me. she was afraid that me, having more experience, schooling, and job related experience, would get kept on and she would be the one to get the boot. the work environment just became too hostile and I wanted out job waitng or no job waiting.

I e-mailed her, her boss and HR commuicating my intentions (giving notice but wanting out NOW) to make sure there were NO mistaking my intentions. HR granted my request. my boss on the other hand tried desperately to talk me into working out my 2 week notice saying things like "OH that will be 2 weeks of free money and you not having to do any work)

HMMM NO not after the way you treated me esp giving me the WORST professional review I have EVER gotten in any job. I got the standard exit interview and told HR in a round about way my feelings on my work environment and the way I had been treated in the last year (since it was my word against my boss'). the one thing that saved me was the fact that the company DID decide to give me 2 weeks salary because I did put in notice. and because of the unemployment rules in that state I COULD in fact receive unemployment benefits.

again I heard through the grapevine my boss did not last much longer either. 6 months after I quit the division was quietly shut down.

there are some instances where I might put in my notice but that depends on the circumstance of my employment ie. the work environment, my bosses, the company, etc.

my scecptisism stems from being use as a throw away employee. ya know hire me on for a certain task (unbeknowst to me at the time) then when I am finished just throw me out the door as you would yesterdays trash. and I ALWAYS got the "Nothing PERSONAL, just business" speach tooooo many times.

[Red Panda]

I suppose as long as you don't mind being a huge jerk and ruining your chances of getting a decent refferel then you shouldn't give notice.

[muses_nightmare]

I think it depends on the job and whether or not you need a good Reference. If you're quitting because your boss is an ass and wouldn't give you a good review anyway, then fine walk out, they never tell you this but you don't actually need to put every job you've ever had on your resume.

If you're quitting for other reasons (ie you're moving, found a better paying job etc.) and you got along fairly well with management then 2 weeks is reasonable. Heck the job before my last one I gave my boss 3 weeks notice, because he was a really great boss and I didn't want to leave him in the lurch. So He had the chance to have my train someone to work my shift when I left, which also gave me something extra to add to my resume so it worked out for the best.

[Racket_Man]

I suppose as long as you don't mind being a huge jerk and ruining your chances of getting a decent refferel then you shouldn't give notice.

most companies these days will ONLY give job title, salary, and dates of employment mostly because they are somewhat afraid of lawsuits they could actually loose

my story involved a somewhat hostile work environment that I could not tolerate any longer. and I knew the company was tanking so it did not matter.

but most of the companies I got "let go" from just popped into my space one fine sunny morning, changed all of my access codes, canceled my e-mail (which is how I "found" out about my termination) told all of my co-workers I was no longer employed and walked me out of the building. only one or two the jobs I actually severed the relationship with were dead-end positions with nowhere to go (not even sideways) and management/owners that had their head stuck way to far up their asses to even care about the "hired help".

four out of the last 5 companies that I held professional type jobs with no longer exist and the one, a contract consulting company no longer remotely does contract consulting. there is NO ONE to get any referals or references from.

if you actaully read ALL of the comments (5 years worth) most of the stories (yes there is a bias) involve a hostile work environment, or favoritism or just plain stupid management. I do agree with the article writer that the COMPANY burned the bridges not the employee.

[Red Panda]

If a company just lets you go then you have the right to give them a bad review if somebody calls you up and asks if you should work for them. Most employees however don't have a ton of jobs. Not being able to use one for no reason other then you left them without resigning is dumb. Even if you think you don't need them now maybe in the future you would want to use that job because its relevant to a position you are going for. There is no reason to sabatage yourself by leaving suddently.

[protege]

my scecptisism stems from being use as a throw away employee. ya know hire me on for a certain task (unbeknowst to me at the time) then when I am finished just throw me out the door as you would yesterdays trash. and I ALWAYS got the "Nothing PERSONAL, just business" speach tooooo many times.

In that case, you don't owe the company anything.

For example, my employer wouldn't hesitate to fire someone in a heartbeat. If that's the case, why should I give them two weeks' notice? Sorry, but I don't care if they're going to have issues finding a replacement. That's not my problem. Even if they do, do you really think I'm going to spend those last 2 weeks training them? Fuck no. I'm already out the door anyway, why bother? What can they do, fire me?

[Red Panda]

And then if you try to get another job thats one less reference you can use. Unless you have something lined up RIGHT NOW whats the point in not giving notice.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Let's see, my recent terminations have been has follows:

Factory job - Was laid off so the company could hire more relatives of employees (yes this was an actual policy, they would hire relatives before outside help). I was just pulled into an office and told three hours before the end of my shift that tonight would be my last night. I was given the choice to leave immediately or finished my shift. I decided to finish the shift.

First Games Store - Did give notice, was on good terms with company, wanted to give them a chance to get a replacement trained.

Call Center - Worked late my last night, just left a note on my supervisor's desk with my entry keycard (you didn't need it to leave the building, only enter) that stated amongst other things "I don't work here anymore". This call center had people leave without notice ALL the time (usually they just stopped showing up) so it didn't bother me a bit to just leave.

Last job - This one of those "bad management" situations. They'd been making veiled threats implying I would be gone soon for awhile now. Eventually I just got tired of it and put in my notice. I took two days off after that for Thanksgiving and the first day I came back, the new District manager called the store and told me she got my notice but due to "business necessities" I was being terminated that day and to please turn in my keys and leave after I got off the call.

I still count that last one as a voluntary termination since they didn't actually boot me out the door until I said I was planning to leave.

[jackfaire]

I suppose as long as you don't mind being a huge jerk and ruining your chances of getting a decent refferel then you shouldn't give notice.

In my state they aren't legally allowed to discuss my reasons for leaving how I left etc.

The only references I would get are ones I ask for and most companies I have worked for make it a policy that no professional references will be given.

[Red Panda]

They might not say how you left but they will remember how you were not a team player and were unproffesional.

[jackfaire]

They might not say how you left but they will remember how you were not a team player and were unproffesional.

Which they could not legally say.

The law says the only things they can say is "Yes Bob worked from this date to this date."

That's it.

[muses_nightmare]

Which they could not legally say.

The law says the only things they can say is "Yes Bob worked from this date to this date."

That's it.

While I don't think you should always have to give notice I'd just like to say that this really depends on where you live.