How much advance notice to give?

[NotReady4Purple]

Greetings to all of you!

I just found this forum today and I can tell that I will be enjoying exploring here.

I will be retiring at the end of this year at 55 (Yeah!) This is something I have been planning for several years.

My job involves private industry R&D for projects that won't come to fruition for several years in the future. So the things that I'm working on now will complete when I'm no longer working.

I have been wondering how far in advance to tell my management and others. I'm thinking ~2 months to give them time to identify and train a replacement(s).

I'm wondering if any of you have thoughts or experiences that can help me decide if earlier or later notification might be better.

Thanks!

 

[M Paquette]

I have been wondering how far in advance to tell my management and others. I'm thinking ~2 months to give them time to identify and train a replacement(s).

I'm wondering if any of you have thoughts or experiences that can help me decide if earlier or later notification might be better.

Thanks!

It varies with the workplace. With a suitably hostile environment and paranoid management, give notice after you've cleaned out your desk and removed your personal effects from the workplace, because they're likely to escort you out the front door and put you on 'gardening leave' (essentially paid vacation) minutes after you give notice, until they complete the paperwork. (I worked in a place like this many years ago.)

In a friendly, collaborative environment, let your managers and team know a few months in advance so replacements can be hired and trained, and a smooth turnover accomplished. I started this process last November, for departure two weeks from now. The 'official notice' just went in, as HR isn't set up for handling this months in advance, and I didn't want them to be confused or have time to lose the paperwork.

 

[stargazer08]

I gave official written notice 2 months in advance. A new leader for my project (who was a total newbie) wasn't identified until 3 weeks before I left and the files didn't actually get handed over until the final week. In retrospect, two weeks notice would have been plenty but my advance notice did keep them from giving me additional projects so it saved my sanity those last 2 months.

 

[bbbamI]

The Mega Corp I worked for required 2 weeks notice, so that's what I gave. My boss talked me into staying 6 more weeks.

That was almost 10 years ago - I've gotten over it.

By the way, welcome.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

I gave 6 weeks notice, to give time to train a replacement - but I packed all my personal stuff,
files, etc. home the day before I gave notice.

 

[Marquette]

My box has been packed on my desk for 6 months... no intention of quitting, but I keep trying to signal that I'm ready for that layoff package.

 

[chinaco]

I would only give the required amount of notice.

If I were going to retire at 55 and the company requires 1 month notice, I would give the 1 month notice and no more.


If I were going to just quit, I would give the customary 2 weeks notice.

The reason is that it would not be any advantage to me to give more notice.

Now... once I gave the 1 month notice to retire, if my management requested that I stay a bit long, I would consider doing it. But only upon their request.

 

[NotReady4Purple]

Thanks all. I have time before the end of the year, so I will continue to mull it over.

I did a massive office (cube) cleanup at the last holidays when it was quiet and quietly brought home a lot of personal stuff. Continuing to do that gives me a secret thrill.

I am sure that they will want me to work longer. Since I don't want to, I will weight that in the balance. I've worked for this company for >25 years so it won't be acrimonious.

 

[Rambler]

There was a thread here a week or two a go on this topic...don't have time to find it an link now...but do you have any kind of contract that stipulates notice period? Are you THE key person in the project? Are others' livelyhoods potentially at risk because of your departure? If so, you may want to consider longer notice. My agreement says I have to give 9 months, and I will give it, and probably more. But, I have been in the enviable position of having to "retire" people with "extra retirement lump sum" because some of those people rubbed my boss wrong. I intend to be nice, but in doing so, I am targeting that "extra retirement lump sum".

R

 

[NotReady4Purple]

Thanks, Rambler. I'll look backwards in the threads.

I have no contract and people give 2 weeks notice when they take other jobs. I am aware that I cannot transfer my expertise in 2 weeks, though and I do want them to be successful after I leave.

 

[Meadbh]

There was a thread here a week or two a go on this topic...don't have time to find it an link now...but do you have any kind of contract that stipulates notice period? Are you THE key person in the project? Are others' livelyhoods potentially at risk because of your departure? If so, you may want to consider longer notice. My agreement says I have to give 9 months, and I will give it, and probably more. But, I have been in the enviable position of having to "retire" people with "extra retirement lump sum" because some of those people rubbed my boss wrong. I intend to be nice, but in doing so, I am targeting that "extra retirement lump sum".

R

Welcome, NotReady!
Here's the thread Rambler is referring to:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/how-much-notice-enough-33322.html

 

[bssc]

Hi and welcome.

Definitely check out what your company requires. For retirees at my Megacorp, it is two weeks. If you are going to a competitor, you are walked that day. So, when you do, make sure they know why.

 

[NotReady4Purple]

Yes, bssc. My comany works under the same policies and the state I'm in (Colorado) is an employement "at-will" state.

 

[freebird5825]

Greetings to all of you!

I just found this forum today and I can tell that I will be enjoying exploring here.

I will be retiring at the end of this year at 55 (Yeah!) This is something I have been planning for several years.

My job involves private industry R&D for projects that won't come to fruition for several years in the future. So the things that I'm working on now will complete when I'm no longer working.

I have been wondering how far in advance to tell my management and others. I'm thinking ~2 months to give them time to identify and train a replacement(s).

I'm wondering if any of you have thoughts or experiences that can help me decide if earlier or later notification might be better.

Thanks!

i was an engineer, managing large R&D contracts for uncle sam, all with long lead times, high dollar, high stress. i had very good relationships with my contractors.

i gave 3 months notice, just to give them a chance to talk me out of it (no chance), transition my contracts smoothly, and do the exit paperwork at a reasonable pace for me.

no bridges burned, and got a few extra paychecks out of the deal. those were 3 sweet months, going to work knowing it was only for a little while longer. made the place look totally different.

private sector may be different though. what did other former collegaues do? i like your 2 months idea. the company may try to talk you out of it, though. might even offer you a raise...

 

[NotReady4Purple]

We haven't seen a lot of retirements. One high-level early retirement occurred recently. I don't know how much notice he gave (the announcement went out ~ one month before - but it identified his successor - so he must've given at least 2 months notice.)

I suspect that my retirement will be unexpected and will get some others thinking about it.

I also expect them to try to talk me out of it.... but I hope not to cave in.

 

[freebird5825]

We haven't seen a lot of retirements. One high-level early retirement occurred recently. I don't know how much notice he gave (the announcement went out ~ one month before - but it identified his successor - so he must've given at least 2 months notice.)

I suspect that my retirement will be unexpected and will get some others thinking about it.

I also expect them to try to talk me out of it.... but I hope not to cave in.

re caving in...just read the posts here for the folks who are FIREd and how we spend our days. i'm guessing your job can't begin to hold a candle to that.

and besides, once you announce you're leaving, an indelible mark is placed on your head. in my experience, i think some of my former colleagues either
a) thought i lost my mind, or
b) was a traitor (to the job) anyway.

when is your FIRE date? soon or a few months away?

 

[growing_older]

I'm under no contract, though if I give less than 2 weeks they confiscate my accrued vacation pay. I've seen some people work out until the end of whatever notice and I've seen some people walked out the door the day they give notice. Because of the risk I'll be sidelined or walked as soon as I give notice, I won't do so until I really am FI, then if I get walked it will still be okay. If they let me stay to work until the end of the notice then I have a little extra time on the job. Not a big problem in the interests of maintaining good relationships with former coworkers and company (in case I ever want to part-time contract).

 

[FreeBird]

I would suggest taking a look at the company policy. If it says a two week notice then that is what I would honor. At the time of notice if they request more then heck... everything in job and life is negotiable. Nothing personal... it's just business.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

I'm under no contract, though if I give less than 2 weeks they confiscate my accrued vacation pay.

I do not know what state you are in, but in CA accrued vacation pay is sacred - it is paid out to you
no matter how you terminate. You might want to check this.

 

[growing_older]

Yes, we looked into it when this policy change was enacted. State law does not require any payout of accrued benefits for vacation leave, sick time or the like. In some limited cases a terminated employee can file a civil suit if the benefit was promised to pay out and the company withholds it, but in our case, the "official" policy is to withhold it, so there is no breach of promise. It is a very unfriendly policy.

 

[theloneranger]

I report to the chairman of the board, not the president, of a company that has more than a billion in sales per year. Since I will be eligible for a large stock grant in two years, I told them that I would leave at that time. My replacement in on board and doing well. Boss said fine, you can work half time for the last six months at full pay.

 

[Meadbh]

I report to the chairman of the board, not the president, of a company that has more than a billion in sales per year. Since I will be eligible for a large stock grant in two years, I told them that I would leave at that time. My replacement in on board and doing well. Boss said fine, you can work half time for the last six months at full pay.

That's a great situtation to be in! You are in an exceptional position as a direct report of the Board Chair, who must obviously take a strategic view, including succession planning. Unfortunately, most people lower down in organizations are not treated with the same respect. Sometimes I see employees downsized or retired with no plans to replace them indefinitely, in the hope that someone else will pick up the work or that the jobs will be discovered to have been unnecessary. That kind of pennypinching can destroy the gains associated with years of effort.

 

[growing_older]

I have also seen folks forcibly retired just shy of some significant milestone, such as pension vesting or stock options becoming exercisable. Glad you are confident in your work relationship, but most people will be unlikely to be in such favorable circumstances.

 

[Midpack]

Hard to say without knowing your exact situation, but I know what I plan to do. I'd like to give 2 months notice, but then they have the option of running me off 6-8 weeks before I want to go, and I intend to control how this goes down. So I will give my boss 2 weeks notice when I'm really ready to leave. If he accepts that, fine, but I think it's unlikely as my position won't be easy to fill either. Amicable departures among my peers have usually taken 1 or 2 months to fill. But MegaCorp has been more than fair with me all in all, so I will also tell him that I am willing to stay on for 2 months to fill my position, even help recruit (but not select) if he wants. And that's all I would tell him that day.

However, if he hasn't found a suitable replacement (and he hasn't chased me off) in 2 months, I will offer to stay on another 2 months, but I will be taking a lot of days off at my discretion where it doesn't disrupt the operation - again I don't think it will come to that. And truth is I'd be willing to stay as long as it takes, but I want to give them an incentive to get it done in 2 months (and I suspect they will). YMMV, best of luck.

 

[TickTock]

Yes, bssc. My comany works under the same policies and the state I'm in (Colorado) is an employement "at-will" state.

My general stance is 'you should deal with the company as they have dealt with their employees.'

So, given employment-at-will: they can (theoretically) tell you to pack it in tomorrow morning for any reason, or for no reason.

Your responsibility to the company is therefore the same. You can leave with no notice, for any reason or for no reason.

Then there is the issue of how the company has *actually* dealt with their employees - when layoffs occur, has there been notice, severance packages, and so on? If so, you should return the treatment and give adequate notice / train a replacement and so on.

OTOH, if the company's bottom line is 'this is a business and we have to do what's best for US', then you have no obligation to them to do more.