Should I give notice?

Question

Have been working for company for almost 6 months. Coworkers making job unbearable. Have been offered other job and have taken their offer. They are allowing me two weeks before I start new job, but am afraid if I give notice that they will fire me and I need the money from my last week. I really am happy about the new job I am going to be starting, but I don't really feel I owe them notice considering the way they treat me here (unappreciative and downright rude to me). What do you think?

Answer 1

I assume you are an "at-will" employee, which means you may terminate your employment with the company whenever you wish, just as they can terminate your employment whenever they wish. You are NOT OBLIGATED to give a 2 week's notice when you choose to quit.

Having said that, be aware that there are repercussions to your actions: While your current employer can't legally say anything other than whether you are eligible for rehire, that doesn't stop people from talking, and, from the sound of your post, these don't sound like the type of people that would curb their tongue, if you know what I mean.

Another thing to consider: You will be under a probationary period with this current company. They will see how you handle this situation and it will be a clarion-bell in THEIR ears as to what type of person you are: they don't know you were working with the staff-from-Hell: they just see that you just burned your last employer and will assume that you MAY blindside them as well. You do NOT need any negatives hanging over your head at your new place of employment.

My suggestion: Give the 2-week's notice. If they retaliate, take comfort in knowing that you've made the right decision. These people weren't going to give you a glowing recommendation anyway. You dealt with them for 6 months, 2 weeks more won't hurt.

What are they going to do, fire you? ;)

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have been there....

But, because your reputation and integrity are what matters, you should give the notice and give 100% until the time you leave. Chances are they will not fire you, usually by then, it's worthless to play that game and they will need to know some things from you before you leave.

Just hold your head high and know that now you can see the end of a bad job...almost over!

As for the withholding paychecks from above, I have never heard of that. It may be legal, but from an HR standpoint, I don't believe it would be enforced because it is a legal issue that will cost the company more than the paycheck. A company would have to go a long way to prove the hardship, so I don't see that happening even if it were legal.

Answer 3

Give your two weeks notice, it's the adult and professional thing to do. Plus if you don't, it will come back to haunt you. Because some day some other company is going to call them to verify employment and if they say you walked off your job or left without notice that will make this new possible employer weary of your reliability. You want to burn as less bridges as possible. Write a nice polite letter of resignation, just say "thank you for the job but other opportunities have been offered to me". And that's it. Do not get into the politics of it nor the emotional stress of it. My last job was horrible at the end but because I did it the right way, I was able to leave with my dignity and pride.

Good luck on your new job.

Answer 4

You should give them 2 weeks notice, if they let you go early then contact the new company and ask if you can start earlier with them. Even though your current company has treated you poorly you need to leave with your head up and in a professional manner. You never know who you may encounter down the road and if this may come back to haunt you because you "left with no notice".

As far as the post about withholding your last paycheck, that is against federal law to do so. No company can withhold payment of wages from you for any reason.

Answer 5

I would give two weeks notice and tough it out for two weeks. They may fire you anyway - but you at least did the honorable thing. You don't have to give notice when leaving a job - it's just a tradition and tends to help the employer find someone to take your place. If you get fired see if the other job will start you one week early.

Answer 6

I say, SCREW EM!! They've treated you bad while working there, and they might treat you worse if you tell them the truth, or even worse you'd lose your job before you got that paycheck you need. You've got to think of yourself the same way that the business thinks of itself, and the business would do what was best for the business no matter what that means for the employee. But know that there are possible (but not definite) consequences if you carry out this plan. Possible burned bridge, bad reference, or paycheck penalty (in some states). But then there are all sorts of colloquialisms, What goes around comes around, two wrongs don't make a right, you reap what you sow. If you can get your conscience past those, you're good to go. If your manager is included in the group of coworkers that make the job unbearable, I say SCREW EM!!! Most of the time in job situations, YOU are the only person who will look out for YOU and that's because your managers figured that out long before Yahoo Answers was around.GOOD LUCK

Answer 7

You should give notice-especially if you need the money. Depending on what state you live in, some States have a law that if you don't give notice and it causes a hardship for your employer they can withhold your last paycheck. By the way if their treatment of you has anything to do with your race, gender, national origin, religion you may have a claim. Contact your local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to find out.

Good luck on the new job.

Answer 8

Give the Manager your notice. You may have to give the notice if you want to use them as a future reference. It will look good on your resume and if they fire you, maybe your new employer will take you immediately. Remember, you will need them for your W2 taxes this year. So leave on good terms, and just say you found a better job that will enhance your career goals. Thank them for the opportunity to work there and move on. Be a bigger person than they are. You never know when you may want to go back to work there again. And, you may be investigated by a future employer who may have to contact them about you. Good Luck.

Answer 9

It is always best to not burn bridges. You never know if someday you might be desperate for a job and need to go back there to work. Plus, this way you can also ask for a letter of reference to keep in a file for your next job search.

Answer 10

one week is a respectable time to not burn any bridges!!!
and just because the coworkers suck don't make the company suck!

I would give them a weeks notice! THEY CAN NOT FIRE YOU FOR QUITTING!
Plus most companys hold that first check so you will still have tht check coming!