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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
Discuss workforce management, performance management, retention, communication, motivation, contributing to business results and other topics.
It seems to "always" have been a tradition in HR, and an expectations from managers / supervisors, that departing employees give 2 weeks notice. Some want more than 2 weeks, but it seems tough to "fau
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/20/2009 2:05 AM EDT
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Posts: 49
First: 7/18/2009 Last: 8/17/2011 |
It seems to "always" have been a tradition in HR, and an expectations from managers / supervisors, that departing employees give 2 weeks notice. Some want more than 2 weeks, but it seems tough to "fault" non-executive level departing staff for giving 2 weeks.
Although 2 weeks are expected, I have read about employees in other workplaces increasingly being "shown the door" very shortly after giving 2 weeks notice--primarily, it seems, for security and morale reasons. Is this a trend on the rise? And if so, are employees "fighting back"? e.g. can we expect them to give less than 2 weeks notice and then be sure not to grumble about it? Given the "at-will" nature of many employees, should we in fact fault anyone for not giving the traditional 2 weeks of noice? What is customary these days, assuming customs are changing at all. How does your organization handle this? Should having offered less than 2 weeks notice ever be mentioned while giving a reference for a former employee? Thanks. Mike |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/20/2009 2:47 AM EDT
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Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002 Last: 9/14/2011 |
My company always pays out notice periods when we have to walk resigning employees out early. As a result, we feel our employees have an ehtical (although not legal) obligation to provide notice of their upcoming departures. For those that don't provide notice, yes, I would feel comfortable telling this to prospective employers.
However, I'd feel 'way less comfortable saying this if I worked in an organization where resigning employees were habitually "walked" and their notice periods were not paid out. |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/20/2009 6:14 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
Based only on anecdotal evidence and personal experience, customary is to have the employee leave after giving notice and paying for the balance of the two week notice period. I've seen some cases in which the employer states that vacation/PTO balances won't be paid out absent 2 weeks notice but those are the exception.
I've never commented on the lack of 2 weeks notice in a reference, never been asked the question and frankly have never even thought of asking about it when conducting a reference check. |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/20/2009 6:57 AM EDT
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Posts: 1783
First: 11/11/2003 Last: 5/13/2010 |
The reason most employers expect a two-week notice is so that there is an opportunity to reassign tasks and rearrange work schedules. Someone who quits without notice can wreak considerable havoc...the information on this project is WHERE? WHO is going to cover that shift?
Certainly there are circumstances that can prevent one from giving adequate notice, but often the lack of notice is essentially giving the employer the finger. |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/20/2009 11:50 AM EDT
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Posts: 245
First: 2/5/2003 Last: 10/7/2009 |
If an EE gives a two week notice here, they receive payment for all accrued vacation. If they do not give the notice, they do not get the pay.
The only times we have "walked someone out" is if we find their performance and/or attitude significantly declines after giving their notice and in those instances, we pay them as if they gave the notice and worked their requisite hours (we are a union facility and this is much easier than fighting a grievance). |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/23/2009 4:30 AM EDT
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Posts: 62
First: 9/13/2005 Last: 11/19/2010 |
We REQUEST two-weeks notice for transitional reasons, but do not believe we can require it under employment-at-will circumstances. In our state, we are required to pay all accrued PTO regardless of whether the employee works a notice. |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/23/2009 12:19 PM EDT
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Posts: 464
First: 6/30/2004 Last: 11/22/2010 |
We do it like LSchmid's company and just implemented that policy effective July1. We will also not allow vacations to be taken during that last two weeks as we do want the time to recruit, reassign tasks, etc.
If the employee is fired for misconduct, we also will not pay out vacation pay. Some states will not allow that sort of policy (CA for one), but it is ok in Nevada. |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/23/2009 5:03 PM EDT
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Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
Nork, I don't know how valid the info I received was but I have been told by a number of Attorneys that a rigidly enforced notice of resignantion can negate an at-will position for an employer. Again, I don't know how valid that is. |
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Should HR still expect two weeks notice from departing employees?
posted at 7/24/2009 6:22 AM EDT
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Posts: 3870
First: 2/12/2002 Last: 11/2/2009 |
I wouls suppose that a 2 week requirement would impact the "terminate the relationship at any time" part of at will, but it seems to be more than a little bit of a stretch. |
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