Yet another post about giving notice

[gabrewer]

Hi all;


In searching the forum for posts about this it seems there's a fairly broad consensus that no more than the customary two weeks is required when giving notice, with some exceptions for high level or specialized occupations.


Some background. I work remotely for a company that is not a mega corp but does have a good number of people (approx. 1,000) and does work on a national and even some international scale. I'm here because of an acquisition of my former employer. My particular department has been eroded over time -- they fired two senior people and moved a key staff member to another division. So it's just down to a happy band of the four of us doing what we do -- which our new parent does not really seem to understand. Furthermore, a plethora of new bureaucratic procedures have been forced on us as well ending long-lasting relationships with suppliers and vendors we would prefer to use. They always say they want you to keep doing things they way you are, but anyone who's been through this knows that's bunk.



With all that in mind, I'm looking at exiting mid year. Not exactly the FIRE I had originally wanted (I'm 63) but it will still hopefully give me a lot of years to enjoy. My concern is that my leaving is really going to create *&#! storm for a coworker that I do have a high regard for and do not wish to do any harm. I had a thought that giving 90 days notice would allow some time for other people to assume my duties and/or adjust the work flow. I shared this with a friend of mine who thinks I'm being way too generous -- and possibly just setting myself up to be worked to death in the time before my departure. And things will still be bad for my coworker in any regard.


So now I'm thinking maybe just 60 days, and hoping for the best. Any experiences from those who encountered similar situations would be appreciated.


Best regards always.

 

[freedomatlast]

Depends on what kind of relationship you have with your manager, but generally no good deed (like more than 2 weeks notice) goes unpunished.

 

[Trailwalker]

We are all replaceable. If you got hit by a bus, they would figure something out. That's the perspective that I would look at this from.

 

[Souschef]

Little back story first. I was a Sr. Contract Admin at a good sized company that made aviation parts and high temp cables. I am a pilot, and engineer and an MBA.
I was the only one in my dept with a technical background. I had been passed over for raises my past 2 years.
I waited for my profit sharing to be posted to my 401k then gave them 2 weeks notice and never looked back. Two days later I was on a plane for a 2 week South American tour.
I heard they had to hire 3 people to replace me.
Personally, because of the way you messed with you, 2 weeks notice is all I would give them.

 

[disneysteve]

Unless you have a contract that states otherwise, 2 weeks is the standard.

My contract requires 120 days notice although that was much more relevant when I was full time or part time. Now that I’m per diem I can give notice and just not pick up any shifts and be done by default.

 

[braumeister]

Kudos to you for being so conscientious.

If you get hit by a truck tomorrow, would your coworker manage OK?

How much notice do you think the company would give you in a layoff?

 

[Jerry1]

If you’re going to give notice with the expectation that they’ll hire someone while you’re there so you can train them and ease the transition, let’s just say - highly unlikely. I had a really good relationship with my executive team and I gave them long notice and they treated me very well. Unfortunately, I’m sure that is the exception. Plus, by giving them long notice, I mean that I had informal discussions with the executives so it was no surprise what my intentions were. These people were and remain my friends at least in a casual way. So they let me work part time, which I did for two years. Then, they had to do budget cuts and I volunteered to go. It was all great, but on paper, they fired me and I gave no actual notice. So, one day there and the next day gone. I was a specialist in my field but when I left, they figured out how to get along without me. I got only a couple calls that were pretty minor.

Bottom line - put in whatever minimum notice you have to in order to ensure you get any thing the is due you, like a final bonus or whatever, and move on. They will figure it out.

If they need you that bad, you can agree to do some contract work for awhile but make sure you put yourself in the driver’s seat of your life. Don’t stay as an employee any longer than you need to. Move into a position of leverage or retirement and do what works for you.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

I gave 6 weeks notice. Largely to allow my longtime Director/friend more time to work toward replacing me. He had previously asked me to give him one year notice (at least unofficially). I laughed at him and told him that was not likely to happen. He was serious. So was I.

 

[Aerides]

My concern is that my leaving is really going to create *&#! storm for a coworker that I do have a high regard for and do not wish to do any harm.

If you have a close relationship with this co-worker, give them a heads up so they can at least prepare or consider making a move as well. But it doesn't change the standard recommendation. Two weeks. They want longer? Negotiate from there.

You are all already in a storm. Your coworker presumably has a back bone and can say No if they dump on them after you go. And whatever happens to them and this storm will be the same if you give 2 weeks or 15 weeks. Your company will squander the time, they won't hire anyone, and if they do, you'll have 5 minutes to train them... and then you'll here they fired them a month after you left.

 

[harley]

I gave 6 weeks notice. Largely to allow my longtime Director/friend more time to work toward replacing me. He had previously asked me to give him one year notice (at least unofficially). I laughed at him and told him that was not likely to happen. He was serious. So was I.

Just out of curiosity, how did the extra time for replacing you work out? My experience has been that they will wait until the last minute or later, no matter how much time you give them.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

Just out of curiosity, how did the extra time for replacing you work out? My experience has been that they will wait until the last minute or later, no matter how much time you give them.

I worked for MegaCorp. New Hires take 12 weeks or more to get done. Moving an existing, internal candidate into the new position takes at least 6 weeks. Nothing moves fast.

During my final 6 weeks, I cross trained any duties that were exclusively mine to 3 other existing junior people already in my group. MegaCorp started the process to move an employee into the position from another group to help with the workload, but it was not in place before I left. The person who eventually took my position was someone I had previously trained on some aspects of the job.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Many years ago while I was active duty in the Navy, we were scheduled for a transfer one June. My wife's employer knew all about this upcoming move out of state about 9 months in advance. And they knew she was a Navy spouse when they hired her. All was good initially.

In the December before the move my wife learned a professional conference in her field, in the location to which we were moving, would take place in February. My wife asked to use her accrued vacation time already on the books to attend the conference. This was denied for no real reason other than spite.

My wife therefore quit so she could attend the conference and gave eight weeks notice, all of the lead time available before the conference. The employer made no effort to start searching for a replacement until the week before her last day. And my wife was the only person who did that work.

Her pregnant boss ended up under so much stress to get my wife's work done that the boss was put on bed rest, and the boss eventually miscarried. The boss and the rest of the office then blamed the miscarriage entirely on my wife.

Give your two weeks notice, or the minimum required by contract, and nothing more.

If they want you to stay longer, and you are willing to stay a little longer, negotiate something that is favorable to you. But put a firm limit on it or they might ask you to stay far longer than you are willing.

 

[CardsFan]

I have posted before that I gave a long notice, and stayed even longer, to the benefit of both me and my employer. My situation was different.

In this case I would give no more than 30 days, but I would give the co-worker a heads up earlier. If the company hears about it from them, and gives you a problem, then all bets are off and go in 2 weeks

 

[MC Rider]

I wouldn't feel a need to give them anything, unless required by a contract.

 

[CardsFan]

One last piece of advice. You probably already know this, but before you say anything to anyone get all your ducks in a row.

If you have personal files on your company PC download them and delete from company property. This includes contacts, emails, book marked sites, etc.

Clean out your office of any personal documents, files, important items.
You need to be prepared to be walked out of the office that day by security.

It probably won't happen, but it could.

Good luck.

 

[MC Rider]

Security!
This person just said I quit.
Escort them out now!


Yes Judy, It could happen.

 

[harley]

One last piece of advice. You probably already know this, but before you say anything to anyone get all your ducks in a row.

If you have personal files on your company PC download them and delete from company property. This includes contacts, emails, book marked sites, etc.

Clean out your office of any personal documents, files, important items.
You need to be prepared to be walked out of the office that day by security.

It probably won't happen, but it could.

Good luck.

It probably will happen. I worked in network security, and as soon as we were notified of someone leaving, all access was shut down. If they were being RIFed, we would do it before they were notified. They weren't necessarily escorted out, but their access was removed. They can train their replacement using the new person's access, if they choose to.

 

[Dash man]

Ten years ago I gave three month’s notice the first work day of the new year. I had given a heads up to a couple of my coworkers that I was close to. I sent an email to my manager, HR, and a few directors/managers I supported. I outlined my three weeks of vacation I was planning to use during that three months and that I was willing to train my replacement if they had one before my departure.
I was prepared to be walked out if that was their choice, but everything went as I hoped. When I returned from my vacation my replacement was hired and I had spent my last few weeks training her remotely since she was in a different state. I turned in my laptop on my last day and learned my two coworkers had also given notice. A director called me the next week to meet me for lunch to inquire why I left. He didn’t like my answer since he expected me to blame someone else.

 

[perinova]

Recently gave a 3 months notice which I think is a good way to lower pressure in the last few weeks of work. The last few weeks were excruciating since I had to go through the motion of still be dedicated while thinking of other things.
Be ready be some fake explanation of why you are leaving (such as some family obligations) so that you can come back if -god forbid- needs arise.

 

[nhcycling]

I recently gave 3 months notice at MegaCorp so they could have the choice of transitioning work from my Programs if they so they so chose.

 

[pacergal]

At 63, your co worker probably already expects that you will be retiring sometime in the near future. It is nice that you are considering their work load, but definitely not necessary. No matter how much lead time you give, they may not hire someone until after you leave or re configure teams to distribute the work anyway.

My team knew a year in advance, but formal notice to HR was 3 months due to pension requirements. Even so, my replacement was not hired until after I was gone.

 

[Unpaintedhuffhines]

I agonized about this exact same issue. Was going to give 3 months, but ended up giving 2 weeks. As an employee, no matter what you think, it’s a financial arrangement: you give them your time and expertise, they give you money (salary, healthcare, other benefits).

The company will be fine. Your coworkers will be fine. Don’t drag it out.

 

[retire48in2018]

Assuming no contract that specifies the process …

There is not a right or wrong way.

Most companies do not use the extra time to better prepare transition.

Most employees leaving do not enjoy the extended time given.

So - most people here recommend just industry standard (2 weeks).

The best way to really think about it - when the company makes a decision to down size department and/or radically change process - it is rare to give affected employees significant notice, train people ahead of time, etc.

Companies already set the precedent and expectation of timing.

 

[MarieIG]

Unless you are required by contract, or benefits are tied to your notice, I would get all ducks in order, be prepared to be "locked out", and give two weeks notice.

No I was never locked out; but the time between giving notice and leaving was not pleasant.

I was not replaced before I left (and I worked like a dog to the last minute to leave everything in good shape), rather, the respective employers followed their normal procedures which was to wait for bombs to be exploding all over the place to even start looking for a replacement.

 

[SumDay]

I gave 6+ months notice. They filled my job the week after I left. I'll just assume they didn't want me teaching my replacement all my bad habits.