NFT: The awkwardness of a 2-week notice

if they are living up to the deal they offered

in technology, so many times you give your notice they walk you out of the building. A lot of people go to competitors.

only story I have is when I left a couple jobs ago my boss started to cry and said "no, no, you're not doing this right now are you?" I felt terrible and she regained her composure and we got past it, but awkward is an understatement.

My kids will probably tweet or text their resignations.

oh, and congratulations, no matter if you like your current job or not, I've always felt exhilarated leaving a new job and starting a new one.

and getting laid off repeatedly or under the constant threat..

And I am definitely thankful, Chef. I've been in both positions. Both are awkward. But when you're working in fear of being laid off, there's a comfort to it being out of your control. Nobody's specifically mad at you.

In comment 12035361 Chef said:

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and getting laid off repeatedly or under the constant threat..

This.

In comment 12035349 montanagiant said:

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if they are living up to the deal they offered

LOLLOLOLOOLOL, HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

I'm 55. I've been with the same company for 17 years because it WORKS for me. But before that, I had a bunch of jobs. Sometimes I got let go. Sometimes I left on my own. But if you don't think that the company will get rid of you, you're wrong. Glengarry, baby. They don't care if you're a nice guy, or a sweet husband, or even (really) if you're a decent employee. If the spreadsheet says you're going, you're going. Loyalty doesn't exist. It's about "you write me a check; I work for you."

so this is my last full week. Was hoping they would tell me to leave so I can get paid for the 2 weeks while not coming in, but no dice.

It was my first time leaving a job though, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I came in a little earlier than normal and when I asked to talk to my manager he knew immediately.


Congrats and good luck on your new job!

zero-stress, in my mind. Sure, you gotta transition some of your work to other team members, but that's nothing. I've done it 3x myself (now on my fourth position of my career).

And absolutely LOL @ staying at one company (although that might have been a sarcastic post). They can fire you without warning or justification at any time, why would you show them any loyalty? I've gotten 20%+ raises each time I took a new job.

No different than football - Free Agents are more expensive than homegrown draftees, amirite?

Been working for the same firm for 15 years now. Don't get me wrong, its been a good run and all but I'm excited to move on to something better.

Not sure what your policy is on banging your coworkers but that's what would be keeping busy for the next two weeks if I were you.

Can never get fired!

requirement. I had a team of people working for me here and others in two other locations, and my manager wouldn't let me tell anyone I was leaving until a week before.

Two weeks before I'm supposed to be gone, one of my peers (outside my group but working for the same manager) blurts out 'so, you're leaving eh? good for you!' - in front of my team in NYC. Never felt so bad, I was pretty close with those guys and they definitely felt betrayed.

I greatly prefer the typical scenario, where they just pay you for two weeks and tell you to go home that day.

a company man to the end. The White Star line would've valued commitment like that!

In comment 12035674 jcn56 said:

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requirement. I had a team of people working for me here and others in two other locations, and my manager wouldn't let me tell anyone I was leaving until a week before. Two weeks before I'm supposed to be gone, one of my peers (outside my group but working for the same manager) blurts out 'so, you're leaving eh? good for you!' - in front of my team in NYC. Never felt so bad, I was pretty close with those guys and they definitely felt betrayed. I greatly prefer the typical scenario, where they just pay you for two weeks and tell you to go home that day.

He wouldn't let you tell anyone? Or what - he would have fired you?

I am so hoping to be in your position soon. Been at my job for seven years and am looking to a start fresh. I've given my two weeks notice before. It actually wasn't awkward, as I just wanted to make sure I did my best to get my replacement up to speed as soon as possible. My boss at the time definitely appreciated it. I do my absolute best to not burn bridges!

My boss let it slip that alot of people are being laid off this week, and now I gotta walk around the office knowing a good portion of the people I work with will not be here next week. It was supposed to be last week, but they put it off a few days. I'm sick to my stomach that this is happening to my friends and co-workers.

Always nice to pull this shit as close to Christmas as possible.

My thoughts exactly.

And was offered a six-month consultancy at my annual 6-figure salary.

Been mostly unemployed since and living on crumbs, accessing an IRA before age 59 1/2, etc. Oh well, middle of last decade was good at least.

In comment 12035713 Scyber said:

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My boss let it slip that alot of people are being laid off this week, and now I gotta walk around the office knowing a good portion of the people I work with will not be here next week. It was supposed to be last week, but they put it off a few days. I'm sick to my stomach that this is happening to my friends and co-workers.

Merry Fuckin' XMas!

In comment 12035729 manh george said:

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Always nice to pull this shit as close to Christmas as possible.

This..

What a real shit company you work for..

In comment 12035473 TheManUpstairs said:

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I'm 55. I've been with the same company for 17 years because it WORKS for me. But before that, I had a bunch of jobs. Sometimes I got let go. Sometimes I left on my own. But if you don't think that the company will get rid of you, you're wrong. Glengarry, baby. They don't care if you're a nice guy, or a sweet husband, or even (really) if you're a decent employee. If the spreadsheet says you're going, you're going. Loyalty doesn't exist. It's about "you write me a check; I work for you."

Spot on...Richard Roma approves:


"Oh, I'm gonna have your job, shithead!"

and it it typical there to have 2 MONTHS of notice. Which is just ridiculous. It can get pretty toxic for everyone involved to have someone still there for that length of time with basically no investment in the company.

sometimes it's better to be laid off mid-December than either late November or early January.

Late November, and it may be hard to start job hunting until the New Year, because firms often don't hire in December. So, you lose more salary.

Early January can be worse because at least this way you can use the holidays to get your resume in shape and get letters out to employers for January interviews.

Still, mid-December FEELS worse.

make sure if you are in sales to post-mark your notice clearly stating your last day will be from 2 weeks from today. They will have to pay you those 2 weeks and will also tell you to pack your shit and go home.

in the summer and was recruited to this position, at a smaller nonprofit, pretty quickly. After about 5 months, I realized the place (not the career) isn't right for me.

In comes a great offer last week out of the blue and it was a no-brainer. Still, telling my boss today was tough. But in the back of my mind, I know they would be swift and heartless if they had to let me go.

Thoughts to everyone with unstable workplaces right now.

I've come to realize no one cares, and I don't care. I've had folks work for me leave and want me to be all heartbroken, and I've had folks leave and give that look like "are you walking me out now?" You get one last happy hour, maybe get a going away gift, and pack up the plants and stupid crap you've collected over the years but never cared to take home.

That aside congrats on the new chapter in your life. New scenery often is exciting and motivating. And if you do get that happy hour, get wrecked!

In comment 12035695 fbdad said:

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In comment 12035674 jcn56 said: Quote: requirement. I had a team of people working for me here and others in two other locations, and my manager wouldn't let me tell anyone I was leaving until a week before. Two weeks before I'm supposed to be gone, one of my peers (outside my group but working for the same manager) blurts out 'so, you're leaving eh? good for you!' - in front of my team in NYC. Never felt so bad, I was pretty close with those guys and they definitely felt betrayed. I greatly prefer the typical scenario, where they just pay you for two weeks and tell you to go home that day. He wouldn't let you tell anyone? Or what - he would have fired you?

I wasn't worried about consequences to me, I was more concerned about what those idiots would do with my people once I left.

1) leave in a good way
2) you might likely will see the same people again in your work life.

It is a small world, do not burn bridges.

leaving for a better job and more pay? Your employer may find it awkward, because he failed to keep you, but he could probably fix that with a promotion and pay raise. You should feel elated, not awkward.

GM at my first "real job". When ever anyone feels self important, irreplaceable or that they owe there current employer more then a good days work, remember that quote.

but just do it professionally, state the reasons the new job offered you something that you couldn't refuse, thank your boss for the opportunity and don't seem over-excited.

In comment 12035679 Nitro said:

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a company man to the end. The White Star line would've valued commitment like that!

Nitro, nice try but i own my own company. We use Subs, and it never fails where we uphold our end of the deal and a couple of the subs never do. So it can be frustrating from both sides. I can understand it if the company or contractor blue sky or embellish a deal. But when we bid on a job and we get commitments for that deal that go by the wayside due to subs pulling that grass is greener shit it sucks. The best is when they come back after they realized they made a mistake and get mad at us for not giving them another shot

i gave my 2 week notice once .. it was super awkward
and the owner of the company gave me 2 weeks of guilt trips
that i was abandoning him what about the company etc etc

well after i left 2 weeks later the company went under!
and those that were there did not get their last 2 weeks of pay

my boss knew the whole time that he was going under and tried to get me to stay so he could get 2 weeks of work for free!!!