Why should people have to give 2 weeks notice when they quit?

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: LoKe
You need their reference, they don't need yours.

Most companies just verify employment anyways. And if they did give me a bad reference, I'd sue their ass for slander.


Edit: Not that I plan on leaving my current job.

 

[Zee]

they give you severance pay/package.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I never really understood why this became a mainstream ideal. If a company can save a penny by knocking you to the curb, they'll do it without a second thought. But this same company believes their employees should give them 2 weeks to get their contingency plan together?

Am I looking at this the wrong way?

if you've had a decent boss and he still treats you decently when you give him a 2 wk notice than i think it's a nice thing to do so they have time to find your replacement.

if the boss treats you like a dick walking out right then is what i'd do.

 

[her209]

Because The Man is trying to hold you down.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: BKLounger
It is a good question we always think ok i have to give them 2 weeks or in some cases more so they can train my replacement but they fire people on a minutes notice and replace you with someone who knows nothing about your job to take your place anyways.

Dane Cook much?

 

[Accipiter22]

here's how I look at it: If you have one or two good references already, who cares what your current employer thinks of you? Now, if they were NICE to me and I enjoyed the job, I'd try to give notice....but if it was a so-so relationship...I'd give 2 second notice.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I never really understood why this became a mainstream ideal. If a company can save a penny by knocking you to the curb, they'll do it without a second thought. But this same company believes their employees should give them 2 weeks to get their contingency plan together?

Am I looking at this the wrong way?

The difference: The Man (TM) doesn't need you as a reference, while you might need The Man's good word to get your next job. But if you don't need the reference, then just pull your pants back up and get the fvck out.

When I'm in that situation (don't need the reference), I prefer just leaving for lunch and never coming back. Makes for good water-cooler gossip for the rest of the day.

 

[middlehead]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
Burning bridges is not a good way to get and keep references

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I never really understood why this became a mainstream ideal. If a company can save a penny by knocking you to the curb, they'll do it without a second thought. But this same company believes their employees should give them 2 weeks to get their contingency plan together?

Am I looking at this the wrong way?

many times if you are let go for restructuring reaons you are given severance.

 

[Linux23]

I don't get this references thing. When you apply for a new job, aren't they required by law just to verify your employment? They can't really badmouth you, correct?

 

[Skeeedunt]

Originally posted by: Linux23
I don't get this references thing. When you apply for a new job, aren't they required by law just to verify your employment? They can't really badmouth you, correct?

I've heard this too.

Of course, they could say anything they wanted once they had someone on the phone, and doubtful you could realistically do much about it.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Originally posted by: Skeeedunt

Originally posted by: Linux23
I don't get this references thing. When you apply for a new job, aren't they required by law just to verify your employment? They can't really badmouth you, correct?

I've heard this too.

Of course, they could say anything they wanted once they had someone on the phone, and doubtful you could realistically do much about it.

First, they verify employment, then caller asks some more direct questions and previous employer answers...if you pissed them off, they will torpedo you. I've heard it happen in person (my boss badmouthing a former employee, who was indeed a worthless POS).

 

[potato28]

In case they need the recommendation, or source.

 

[savvy]

Two wrongs makes it equal.

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: Linux23
I don't get this references thing. When you apply for a new job, aren't they required by law just to verify your employment? They can't really badmouth you, correct?

They can say anything they want about how your performance with the company was and what questions your new company will be asking.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: Linux23
I don't get this references thing. When you apply for a new job, aren't they required by law just to verify your employment? They can't really badmouth you, correct?

They can say anything they want about how your performance with the company was and what questions your new company will be asking.

Sure, they can, but most don't since most companies have policies against it.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Linux23
I don't get this references thing. When you apply for a new job, aren't they required by law just to verify your employment? They can't really badmouth you, correct?

people talk man. may not be in a work environment, but your name/reputation is everything. word of mouth is EVERYTHING.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Sure, they can, but most don't since most companies have policies against it.

meh, everybody is connected within a given industry/city.

"man, I found this guy who is a great fit. He's awesome!!!"

"nah, drop him. He burned me big time and isn't a team player, not to mention he has an attitude problem. Stay far away from that guy."

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Sure, they can, but most don't since most companies have policies against it.

meh, everybody is connected within a given industry/city.

"man, I found this guy who is a great fit. He's awesome!!!"

"nah, drop him. He burned me big time and isn't a team player, not to mention he has an attitude problem. Stay far away from that guy."

It wouldn't be too hard to narrow down who's badmouthing you though, and then they're in a world of trouble, especially if they exaggerate in the slightest bit.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I never really understood why this became a mainstream ideal. If a company can save a penny by knocking you to the curb, they'll do it without a second thought. But this same company believes their employees should give them 2 weeks to get their contingency plan together?

Am I looking at this the wrong way?

Yes, you are looking at this wrong.

"You're fired!"
or
"We're downsizing and your job has been eliminated"

generally don't go well with

"You have two weeks to train your replacement"

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: broon
Usually a company will give some sort of severance if you get laid off. If you get fired it's because of something you did and don't deserve notice. Give the notice.

Bingo. If you're performing to par, you will be given notice by the company that you're being laid off. If you're fired, you've breached your own end of the contract.

ZV

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: broon
Usually a company will give some sort of severance if you get laid off. If you get fired it's because of something you did and don't deserve notice. Give the notice.

Bingo. If you're performing to par, you will be given notice by the company that you're being laid off. If you're fired, you've breached your own end of the contract.

ZV

People are fired for petty things all the time, I wouldn't classify firings as a breach of contract in general.

 

[episodic]

Yea in this new world they expect loyalty from the employee - yet give none. . .

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
It wouldn't be too hard to narrow down who's badmouthing you though, and then they're in a world of trouble, especially if they exaggerate in the slightest bit.

Why? People talk about other people all the time, word of mouth and who you know circumvents all.

I'm sure as heck won't be in trouble if I talk bad about somebody outside of work. That's just how business is done. That's the value of your relationships and network. You know who to trust and know you power boundries.

There's a trust aspect - I provide information on your slacker potential and you provide me with a steady stream of talent.

Grasshopper has much to learn in corporate world. Name/reputation is everything.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: mzkhadir
Burning bridges is not a good way to get and keep references

For the win. It's not a matter of "being the bigger man"... it's a matter of preserving a future reference. In today's competitive workplace, references are typically the deciding factors between candidates.

Most big employers won't even give refrences nowadays... they'll just confirm that you worked there when asked. I guess that they're afraid of getting sued if they don't give you favorable feedback.

Besides, I've had more than a few managers who practically forgot that I existed just a few weeks after completing a project for them. "What have you done for me lately?" seems to be the corporate watchword nowadays.

Because of this, you're better off getting customer refrences instead of employer refrences whenever possible. A few friendly and loyal customers will always give more enthusiastic feedback than a manager who's pissed off about having to find your replacement.