Do You Have to Give Two Weeks’ Notice?
When you’re ready to move on from your current job, every day spent at your desk may seem like forever. Whether you’ve accepted a new position you’re really excited about or are planning to take some time away from the workforce to regroup, you’re probably ready to make your exit immediately. Moving on to the next chapter is exciting, but you need to close this one graciously by giving your current employer two weeks’ notice.
Notifying your boss of your pending departure two weeks in advance is a standard employment practice — and there’s very few exceptions to the rule — so unless your situation is truly dire, plan to honor your commitment. Failing to give this professional courtesy can come with some pretty major consequences that will follow you for years to come.
Inability to Use Your Boss as a Reference
Quitting your job without giving proper notice is a surefire way to burn bridges with your boss forever. You’ve spent your entire tenure in the position trying to make a great impression, but this one move will completely ruin your efforts. Forget ever asking your manager to be a reference in the future, because their memory of all your hard work will be overshadowed by anger over your swift departure.
Tarnished Reputation
If you suddenly quit your job, your workload doesn’t just vanish. Instead, your colleagues will be forced to put in extra hours to pick up the slack — and this won’t make them happy. You can be certain they’ll share this story with their own connections, who won’t hesitate to mention the incident the next time your name comes up in conversation. Gossip travels fast and it’s very hard to bounce back from a professional gaffe of this magnitude.
Lost Accrued PTO Pay
You may not have read the fine print, but there’s a good chance your company actually has a written policy barring employees who fail to give two weeks’ notice from receiving pay for accumulated PTO days. Depending on the amount you have saved up, this could stand in your way of getting a sizable chunk of money.
No Chance of Returning to the Job
When leaving a job, you never expect to return, but the future is filled with uncertainties. Your new opportunity could fall through or after seeing what it’s like on the other side, you might realize you miss your former company. If you quit on good terms, there’s a good chance you’ll be welcomed back with open arms, but if not, expect to be shown the door when you come back to grovel.
Poor Impression for Your Future Employer
Any company worth your time respects the protocol of giving your current employer two weeks’ notice. If you try to expedite the process, your new manager will likely become wary, as this is a clear sign you’ll take the same route down the road if you decide to leave the organization. On the same note, steer clear of any company that asks you to leave your job without the standard transition period.
Landing a great new job is hard work, but you don’t have to navigate your search alone. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you find your next behavioral health position, contact us today at (513) 651-9500 or by email at [email protected].