Manager quitting a job

[Stopsignhank]

So I have worked at my job for many years. 10 years. The last 5 as a manager. I gave 2 weeks notice and now they are of course asking what they can do to keep me. One thing they asked was that in my position it is customary to give more notice and help to find my replacement. They have asked if I can make it 4 weeks instead of 2.

Is this true? I don't think so, just looking at what others think. I do not burn bridges. I am 55 and this is literally the only professional job I have quit. But then this is only my second job also.

 

[nakedfrog]

It could certainly be customary within their company. You aren't really obligated to comply with their request, but it could overall be in your interest to play ball (depending on other circumstances, of course).

 

[lxskllr]

If you don't have anything else to do, why not? It's only a couple more weeks.

 

[highland145]

What frog said.

Love how the old job wants 2 weeks and the new one wants you Monday. When the new job becomes the old one, they want 2 weeks.

 

[Kaido]

It really depends:

1. How well-organized are you? Do you have a transfer book containing all of your work instructions and active & future projects to hand off to your replacement?

2. Can a competent replacement come in & pick up where you left off easily & without interrupting the business? Is the job highly specialized & the pool of component professionals available for it small? Like, I work in freelance IT support...my job is a dime a dozen, so if I get hit by a bus, I could be replaced tomorrow with someone who could do the job. But some jobs require more training & hand-off stuff & need a specialist. I have a friend who is a FoxPro database specialist & he's one of very few people who can drop in & do that job because the database is so old.

3. Are you in a higher-level position? They usually walk people out the same-day the higher up you go.

4. How much do you care about them? I 100% agree with not burning bridges, because you never know what's in the future. 2 weeks is customary at any company. Asking for 4 weeks means that they'll have enough time to find someone, get them trained, and then you're free to go without causing a business interruption. But, it also depends on how well-organized the company is...it could just be a stalling routine. You probably know the company culture pretty well at this point.

TL;DR: 2 weeks is reasonable. Asking for 4 weeks isn't unreasonable, but you should only do it if you want to.

 

[IronWing]

What they want doesn't factor; that's why you're leaving. Is there an advantage to you to stay four weeks? If so, stay. If not, adios.

 

[nakedfrog]

I have a friend who is a FoxPro database specialist & he's one of very few people who can drop in & do that job because the database is so old.

LOL
I was going to say "that's still a thing?"

 

[mrblotto]

Tell 'em adios mofos (give them 2 weeks)

 

[ponyo]

Everything has a price. They want you for 4 weeks? Then they have to pay. And not your regular market rate.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

There is no way I would actively help my employer find my replacement, regardless is my departure is originating with my action or theirs. I remember when I left telco-side to head over to the ISP-side of the house--they were still separate companies back then--I was asked for more time before leaving and I declined. I was then removed from active work and directed to write as many documents as I could on the processes in their center for which I had obviously become a subject matter expert on. I did the writing and two weeks later I was gone.

The interesting thing is less than two years later I would make a move from the ISP side of the house to the mobility-side and go to work for the same person I worked for in the telco side, he haven made the move a year earlier. Like the Internet side, the mobility side was still a separate company (all integrated now) and yet that didn't stop my old boss from stealing me from another yet-to-be-integrated division.

But in today's corporate environment the all mighty dollar means all previous conventions are gone by the side of the road. No such thing as loyalties. Companies would just as soon threaten you to train your replacement or deny you severance as a result with such replacements being nothing more than a in-country contractor or an overseas labor force.

To the OP, the pressure should not be on you for your current employer's lacking in insuring a backup plan was in place in case you didn't show up tomorrow. You could have been hit by a bus today and where would they be? Two weeks is fine ... just tell them you plan on stepping in front of the proverbial buss two weeks from now.

 

[Platypus]

What they want doesn't factor; that's why you're leaving. Is there an advantage to you to stay four weeks? If so, stay. If not, adios.

This exactly. Balance burning a bridge versus being taken advantage of.

Personally, I'd collect the 2 weeks additional pay for what is sure to be a cakewalk (the whole train your replacement shit rarely actually happens in my experience) and then keep that bridge intact. But that depends on factors we aren't privy to.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

This exactly. Balance burning a bridge versus being taken advantage of.

Personally, I'd collect the 2 weeks additional pay for what is sure to be a cakewalk (the whole train your replacement shit rarely actually happens in my experience) and then keep that bridge intact. But that depends on factors we aren't privy to.

Depends on whether or not they blame you for "insufficiently training your replacement" when it turns out the dude they hired is an idiot.

 

[Stopsignhank]

I should say we are a smaller company. 170 people total and 140 of those are production people. I already have another job and I have told them that I would start on the 25th. That is 2 weeks here and then 1 week between jobs.

Surprisingly they thought highly of me, at least that is what they are saying now. I am leaving because the place is no fun to work at anymore. I don't like the people who I work with. Plus there are some other things, but really it is because of the people.

No one will be able to come in and do what I do. Probably. They might be able to find someone, but doubtful. BTW, I am a Facility Manger and Safety Manager for a manufacturing company.

I know the boss just wants me to stay to make it easier on him. I just had not heard the customary 4 week thing.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I should say we are a smaller company. 170 people total and 140 of those are production people. I already have another job and I have told them that I would start on the 25th. That is 2 weeks here and then 1 week between jobs.

Surprisingly they thought highly of me, at least that is what they are saying now. I am leaving because the place is no fun to work at anymore. I don't like the people who I work with. Plus there are some other things, but really it is because of the people.

No one will be able to come in and do what I do. Probably. They might be able to find someone, but doubtful. BTW, I am a Facility Manger and Safety Manager for a manufacturing company.

I know the boss just wants me to stay to make it easier on him. I just had not heard the customary 4 week thing.

2 weeks was always "customary", except for some professional administration type jobs where 4 weeks is just nicer so they can get a head start on finding a replacement. I work for the gubment and they can't even begin a search until I vacate the position officially, but it's nice when they have time to cross-train and get their hiring ducks in a row before I jump ship. My last 2 positions that I left (2009 and 2015), I gave 4 weeks. When I leave this job, I may tell them on Friday that I won't be back Monday...cause I think that'd be fun. =P

 

[EliteRetard]

I should say we are a smaller company. 170 people total and 140 of those are production people. I already have another job and I have told them that I would start on the 25th. That is 2 weeks here and then 1 week between jobs.

Surprisingly they thought highly of me, at least that is what they are saying now. I am leaving because the place is no fun to work at anymore. I don't like the people who I work with. Plus there are some other things, but really it is because of the people.

No one will be able to come in and do what I do. Probably. They might be able to find someone, but doubtful. BTW, I am a Facility Manger and Safety Manager for a manufacturing company.

I know the boss just wants me to stay to make it easier on him. I just had not heard the customary 4 week thing.

They did ask if there was anything they could do to keep you...

Would a financial incentive make it worth dealing with the people you don't like?

My friend was recently looking for a new job for similar reasons.
After telling them he was putting in his 2 weeks, they asked what would make him stay.
He wanted a minimum 30% pay increase, plus a 10% cash "sign on" bonus.
He expected them to laugh it off.

They gave him what he wanted, plus more control/authority at the company.

 

[aigomorla]

There is a reason why its called 2 week notice...

However that is very dependant on how well you know the company.
If you liked the owners, and the boss above you, i would work it out to stay a bit longer, if it wont ruin your transition, and help train your replacement.
That is the key statement.. "train your replacement".

If you however hate the company, want to leave as soon as possible while still being professional, then 2 weeks is standard policy.

 

[randay]

Youve been there for 10 years, has noone quit in those 10 years? If youve already got another job i would tell them no.

 

[pete6032]

I should say we are a smaller company. 170 people total and 140 of those are production people. I already have another job and I have told them that I would start on the 25th. That is 2 weeks here and then 1 week between jobs.

Surprisingly they thought highly of me, at least that is what they are saying now. I am leaving because the place is no fun to work at anymore. I don't like the people who I work with. Plus there are some other things, but really it is because of the people.

No one will be able to come in and do what I do. Probably. They might be able to find someone, but doubtful. BTW, I am a Facility Manger and Safety Manager for a manufacturing company.

I know the boss just wants me to stay to make it easier on him. I just had not heard the customary 4 week thing.

A smaller company would be like 10 people. 170 is very big. If there are 29 other non-production employees who, among themselves, cannot fill the gap you leave, then that is their problem.

 

[BudAshes]

They got 10 years of your life. Enjoy your week off.

 

[esquared]

If you were in Belgium..........................

European Restructuring Monitor - Belgium: Notice period to employees

www.eurofound.europa.eu

13 weeks notice, from what it looks like.

 

[Hans Gruber]

If someone is quitting their job after 10 years. The work environment must be toxic.

 

[purbeast0]

Tell them to pound sand and leave after your two weeks, take your week off, then start the new job.

I mean let's be real. You are 55 years old, have worked there 10 years, gave the standard 2 weeks notice. Leaving on that note isn't "burning bridges" and you are going to be out of the workforce probably sooner than later, in retirement.

You see the true colors of a company when you leave and when the company isn't in control for once. i saw a side of my previous company when I quit a couple months ago that I had never seen in the 7.5 years I was with them.

 

[JPS35]

Would you be willing to stay for more money, vacation, stock options, modified work schedule, travel expenses, or other incentives? Sounds like a good opportunity to renegotiate your position. If you truly do not like the people, work, or whatever, then you are right to move on to something you may enjoy more. However, just remember, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Each place has its ups and downs. There's something to be said for having longevity and seniority. Regardless of that, two weeks is plenty.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

So... one thing I loved about the accounting/consulting firms... When I quit I gave a fuckin ~3 day notice.... and I did that because by that time I had been established in my job it was my understanding that it was fairly commonplace to do that.

Hell, the senior manager that had a desk behind me that I chatted with from time to time quit on a 1 day notice heh.

The point being is simply this: Give equal respect to that which they give you.

IF they have been screwing you over with pay over the years, give them a week or less. They full well knew they were low-balling you, and were simply hoping you never noticed.
IF they have been all around decent, but just haven't had a force to advance you to the next levels, then be more nice and give 2+ weeks.

It really isn't difficult, the answer is simple: Give equal respect to that which they gave you.

 

[PowerEngineer]

It really isn't difficult, the answer is simple: Give equal respect to that which they gave you.

Mostly agree. I'd probably decide to err on the side of giving at least as much respect.

Perhaps as a compromise you can offer to respond to emailed questions for another two weeks.

I have never liked the "what can we do to keep you" question. It comes across to me as an admission that they have been knowingly undervaluing my contribution and are only going to treat me fairly when they are forced to. I also suspect they will claw back as much as they can during subsequent performance appraisals and pay raises.