If I quit my job without 2 weeks notice?

Question

can my employer do anything to screw my work record or anything?

Answer 1

If you work for a company with an "at will" policy, you can technically quit at any time with no notice. The 2 weeks notice is really just a courtesy. If you don't give 2 weeks notice, your employer may be less inclined to give a positive recommendation.

Answer 2

If you live in an "at-will" employment state, both you and your employer have the right to terminate your employment relationship at any time for any reason. There are a couple of issues with leaving without giving your employer the courtesy of some advanced notice, however. First, you are burning a bridge and there is always the possibility that you will run into other employees or people from the company later in life for any number of reasons, and it may turn out that it would have behooved you to do the right thing in that circumstance. Two, if you are planning on including that job in your employment history (either in a resume or otherwise) and a potential employer has the opportunity to talk to your prior employer, the potential employer may be briefed on one of your less than shining moments, and that won't be good for your chances with the new job. If you don't include the job in your employment history, then you will need to find some way to justify the gap in time. Unless you include that job, you are lying -- which is never a good way to start.

You employer may decide that they don't want you to stick around for the full two weeks -- leave that decision up to them and then do the right thing. Just my 10 cents. Good luck!

Answer 3

Two weeks notice is a courtesy, not a requirement, in most cases. You will probably be tagged as not rehirable, which they can tell to any employer that may call to verify your employment with them. That could mean anything to the potential employer from walking out to company theft, so you may want to let your interviewer know ahead of time why they may say you are not rehirable. What they can't do is make anything up about your work record while you were there or give any kind of false information.

Answer 4

Your employer can tell a prospective employer that you are not rehireable or that you left with no notice. That can send a message to an employer about you that may affect you down the road.

Answer 5

Not necessarily, but if you quit in a chain operation like fast food or department stores, you can't hire on with that company again.

Answer 6

I run a Retail store in Oregon which is an "At Will" state. I have to tag someone as re-hirable even if it is a "No Call, No Show".