Why is it that, as an employee, it's customary to give a two week notice, but the same doesn't apply to the employer?

I put in my two weeks notice today and was told I should just leave at the end of the week. I was showing respect to the company and my co-workers by giving them notice and not just walking out the door and not coming back. I'm glad I had already found a new job. It bothers me though that I told them I needed to put in my notice and couldn't start for two weeks and now I am going to be out of a job for those two weeks.

It seems wrong that companies can show such little respect to their workers and cut them off like they were never there. I can understand if you break a rule or something that would require immediate removal. If it's just not working out, shouldn't you get the same notice from your employer to find a new job that they expect from you to find a new employee?

Today's workplace is far different than the days that mutual respect was in demand. You did the right thing they didn't but remember companies that are unappreciative always cultivate bad names for themselves. You will be rewarded for your respect to them.

From past experience of places I have worked and seen when employee's give a notice it is best for company's to let them go as soon as they can.

Too many times the employee that is leaving causes more problems then it is worth.

I myself have gave notice and have stayed till the end but then in my line of work at the time it was a different situation..

I have seen employee's that turn in their notice and then cause more problems then it is worth to keep them.

Plus if the company can hire someone else for that position why would they want to keep the one that is leaving if there is no use for them..

Most of the time the new company you are applying for will put you to work sooner if you explain to them they have already replaced you. If not then enjoy a few days off..

Your period of depends on what's written in your terms and conditions (TOC) of employment. Your contract of employment outlines your obligation to your employer and theirs to you. If an employee chooses to nullify that contract, the employer no longer has to adhere to the terms of that contract and can act as they see fit as long as they are not breaking employment law.

Sometimes an employer may not want you to work your notice if they are worried about any negative comments you may make - where I used to work at lot of people on their way out, posted negative emails about either the CEO, other Managers or their opinion about the direction of the organisation. Some were just bitter other's had integrity and just felt unable to continue working for an employer that had none (integrity). Regardless of whether I agreed, it wasn’t professional or fair to those that had chosen to stay.

It could just be that they just feel that they (the employer) can adopt your duties within the existing workforce so you working your notice isn't necessary.

As I was told on many management courses, you manage the role, not the person performing the role so in essence, that fact that you were being considerate, that isn't what matters to employers.

As soon as you hand in your notice, all that employer/manager is thinking about is how that role can be filled in the interim and recruitment costs.

Spoken like a true middle manager

Giving two week notice used to be a matter of courtesy. Today the word courtesy hardly matters to employees or to the employer...

I agree it is a courtesy BUT bottom line is that it depends on what's written in your TOC.

An employer doesn't have to accept or recognise courtesy.

It's really just going to depend on your employer. Some will be happy you gave two weeks notice and can work on closing up/passing off anything you've been working on. Some will worry that you won't do anything for your last two weeks and just say to leave then. There's nothing that says they have to let you stay for those two weeks once you quit.

When I orientate a new aide I try to be honest with them and tell them that all the smart ones leave. Some of the other aides would prefer that I should hold back so that they get a chance to find out for themselves and form their own opinions. I used to always have that contingency plan already formulated because I was looking for a good job when I found the one that I was at. Some companies have this thought in mind when they have the probationary period. You get to check them out and vice versa. The screening that the company can take can checking you out before the hire You is also an option that you can take, too in checking them out before you even get the job. I agree though terms like reputable, open door policy and trust have become a grey area in today's job market.

It's obvious most companies/people have no idea what courtesy is or how to show courtesy. Remove courtesy, you remove respect,remove respect we create a society of disobedient individuals.

Nothing wrong with a bit of over exaggeration ... but green or chasing the green, has always been the bottom line for most employers.

I do not agree that it's over exaggeration all you need is to look around you'll see the disrespect created from the removal of couresty. Adults are the example to the kids,good or bad...Removing couresty breeds disrespect...Differing opinions are the breeding grounds for split decisions.....

Humm funny how many blame it all on the employer for not letting employees stay after they have given notice..

Humm guess until one has seen the results of letting them stay out their notice at times it may just change ones opinion..

There are many employers that will let one work out their notice it all comes down to company policy. Most of the time many employee's do not read the company policy rules..

Yes one does turn in a notice out of respect for the employer as well as hoping that they will give a positive review when called upon from other employer's...

But one can not expect that employer to keep them on once they have filled that position or has sourced the work out to the other employee's of the company.. They already know your leaving and most likely if you were looking for a new job already caught wind of that as well..

I mean no disrespect but that's the same as saying that supermodel models cause anorexia in young women - note that I didn't say SOME young women.

I think there's always a danger in wide-sweeping generalisations such as the ones you are making.

I am not sticking up for employers, I just have some understanding of HR policies/procedures.

Perhaps you need to start surrounding yourself with different people if all you see is disrespect. I see respect all the time from people I am around each day. Sure, there will be those who are disrespectful, but that's certainly not everyone.

Exactly, most employees do not read their TOC's. It's business not a social club

I gave my two weeks notice once at one company, but thought I'd be extra nice and also say that I can stay a little longer if they REALLY need me until they find somebody else. They dragged that out for MONTHS and even asked me to go through all the resumes for potential replacements AND train the guy! I didn't really put much effort into that and saying that my training of the new guy was a 'crash course' would be a gross overstatement. Especially after finding out that his starting pay was the same as what I was making!

Differing opinions are why we have split decisions...Perfect people have flaws to the eye of imperfect people, or should that be; to the eye of the perfect people the imperfect people have flaws? Any way you see it imperfection has it's say.

Just saying!

God Bless You All!

If you gave two weeks notice and stayed longer, that was your choice.

I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone who is perfect.