Cubicle 101: Should I give 2 weeks notice in my resignation letter?

Easier than writing a letter of resignation.

Giving two weeks notice before leaving a job has been, and still is, standard practice in Corporate America.  However, recent changes in how organizations handle layoffs and advanced resignation notices should cause many to question whether the policy still fits.  The question really boils down to this -- if I spit in your friend's face, do you respond by shaking my hand?

MSNBC recently posted an article titled Take this job and shove it by Eve Tahmincioglu.  The article features Richard Laermer, the CEO of New York-based RLM PR, who is "shocked" by the recent trend of employees who are not giving the standard two week notice.

"After 19 years of doing this job, as a CEO no less, I find myself shocked at how people are doing this.”

The article goes on to state that Laermer suspects it all started after he canceled the Christmas party and announced layoffs in November.  Really?  He SUSPECTS that is when it started?  Good guess Mr. Laermer.  The two page article goes on to identify several items that often cause employees to ignore the standard two weeks notice, including layoff worries, slashed wages and benefits, unpaid time off, and a host of other cost cutting measures.  While all of these things can damage employee morale, there are two vital reasons that cause employees to ditch the practice of giving 2 weeks notice:

1. Employers who escort their employees out of the building, without pay, after an employee offers advanced notice.

2. Employers who skirt the WARN act and layoff employees without notice.

Firing employees after they give notice
There seems to be a growing number of stories regarding employees who courteously offered two weeks notice, only to be walked directly out of the building without pay.  Unless you are under contract, a company can legally give you the boot after giving two weeks notice, and are not obligated to pay.  Some companies do this to protect confidential information, others do it because they have a stick stuck somewhere.  Some organizations still offer the employee their two weeks of pay, but there are still a number of stories available online regarding employees who were fired after giving notice.

Layoffs without notice
There are many companies in the United States, that offer their employees up to an additional 30-60 days of employment after being laid off.  Unfortunately, there are still some who layoff their employees without warning.  Such actions taken by corporations should make most people wonder why the favor should be returned.

So, how do you know if you should give two weeks notice?

> Read part 2 of this article to find out.

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Cubicle 101 is a recurring article in Dudley B. Dawson's Life in the Cubicle column.  Want to read more Cubicle 101 stories?  Click here!

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