How beneficial is the 2-week notice?
May 16, 2008 – 11:00 amA former co-worker of mine, whom I will name John, recently left our company, suddenly. Actually, we saw it coming. He began using up all of his sick and vacation days; and when it all dried up, no one heard from him again. “No call/no show” is one of the worst reasons to be absent. After the sixth “No call/no show”, it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t going to call or show ever again. Days later, I received an update from a friend of mine. As many may have already guessed, he found a new and better position. The new position provided better work hours so he could focus on his music production company that was beginning to lift off. It all worked out great for him, but talks around this company lead up to the supervisor saying, “At least he could’ve gave us a two-week notice.”
In my opinion, a two-week notice benefits the company more than the employee. After all, it’s is easier for a company to hire an employee than it is for an employee-potential to find a job. When market conditions go sour, people are laid off suddenly, without a two-week notice, to save costs. Even if they were to receive a two-week notice, in Houston at least, you can be out of a job for months before finding an opening. One thing I learned from the job market is that a lot of positions in the classified are usually reserved to someone already in the company, but the regulations state that they must interview applicants before handing it over. That’s like building up someone’s hopes just to shoot them down. Before I found my position, I was looking for work for almost four months!
So while John may have despised the company and maybe even co-workers, how would a two-week notice have been beneficial to him?
COMMON COURTESY - Take your co-workers into consideration. If you leave the company suddenly due to new and better prospects, all of your responsibilities at Company A do not disappear. Someone has to take responsibility of your work load until someone new comes along. As much as you probably “hate” your co-workers consider this, someone has to now give up their time with their family and loved ones to finish up the work that you left them with. I know you can’t hate them that much. A two-week notice allows the company to find your replacement and possibly train them so you can continue with your career and your team can continue to meet their deadlines.
FUTURE EMPLOYMENT - There is no promise that next month (or even the next day in today’s economy), John will still be working at that same company he left our company for. What happens when he goes in for an interview, lists our company for employment history on his application, and the new company calls his old supervisor? The interviewer will not hear good news and it will then become a negative mark for John. In fact, these days you don’t even have a list your company in employment history. If John signs that paper to allow the employer to perform a credit check, our company will pop up.
DON’T BE SELFISH - This also ties into “FUTURE EMPLOYMENT’ because if the interviewer learns of the sudden leave, he will look at it as being selfish. You will only think of yourself rather than the team. That is not personality trait a company looks for out of an employee. It is not only unprofessional, but also consider your own morals. As I said earlier, consider the work placed on the co-workers and the new responsibilities and probably even liabilities they now face. If that makes you smile, then you are cruel and selfish. ïŠ
LEAVE ON GOOD STANDINGS - When I left Hewlett-Packard, my supervisor wrote a letter of recommendation which helped me gain my position I’m at now. He even advised me that if things got rough, I could return back to Hewlett-Packard, though I am unsure if he was speaking the truth or out of courtesy. Leaving on good standings can not only help you in your future job searches with recommendation letters, positive references and building your own network, but if the position is still open and available, you may have a last resort spot available if things go weary.
Those are what I feel are the top reasons why a two-week notice is beneficial for the employee. I can’t say if John made the right decision or not, all I can do is wish him the best of luck in all of his endeavors.
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You make some good points here. Beyond the issue of courtesy for your former co-workers, I live by the rationale of “don’t burn bridges.” You mention this idea in your four point of “leave on good standing.” It goes along with the importance of building and maintaining a strong personal network of relationships.
The contacts you make and maintain are an important asset when securing employment or building a business. No matter what your personal differences are and/or were with your colleagues, it’s always a good idea not to let negative feelings in the short term adversely affect long term plans.