In "right-to-work" states, should employers expect the customary "two-weeks' notice"?

[Occulus]

Poll question: In "right-to-work" states, should employers expect the customary "two-weeks' notice"?

Before you answer, ask yourself: is that door customarily expected to swing both ways?

[joshcryer]

1. Few doors swing both ways, I never understood this metaphor.

A door that swings both ways is a poorly designed door!

[Occulus]

3. Kitchen doors in restaurants almost always do.

Also, batwing doors in an old-time saloon.

We have some big, heavy ones where I work so that forklifts and towing tugs can drive in and out with the driver staying in his seat.

[joshcryer]

13. Yeah, and I've seen more than one person in my life run smack dab into those doors.

In Churches as a kid we had those kinds of doors, but they always had a stop so that they wouldn't swing the other way unless you engaged the stop, moved it, and reengaged.

[Endangered Specie]

2. A good number of companies give two weeks severance pay for non-cause involuntary firing.

Basically like getting 2 weeks notice, minus the work.

[undeterred]

23. Only for higher level jobs.

[hobbit709]

26. Never got that from any place I worked in TX.

Neither did anyone I know. I know a couple of people who ended up going to the wage board just to get the pay for their last half day.

[bluesbassman]

4. No they shouldn't, but one shouldn't expect to be re-hireable if notice is not given.

Pesky two way doors. :)

[upi402]

5. No

They want 'hurray for me, fuck you' then they get it right back at 'em.

[bluestateguy]

6. I think the WARN act mandates that employers give 60 days notice for mass layoffs

But then again, that law is so riddled with loopholes and exceptions as to make it almost meaningless.

[Occulus]

7. I am speaking of individuals.

Further, the "two weeks' notice" has never been a law anywhere in the US to my knowledge. If someone can point to something that proves differently, please let me know; I would be very surprised.

[Hannah Bell]

8. don't know if it was law, but it used to be common practice.

[demosincebirth]

11. In Ca, there is no such law as giving two weeks notice. They can fire you

anytime they want. why give 'em two weeks?

[Hannah Bell]

14. i didn't say there was. i said, it used to be common practice.

[demosincebirth]

28. Maybe it's still is common practice. I've been out of the workforce for a few years.

[Statistical]

20. References?

If it is an employer I have worked years for and it looks good on a resume I am not going to potential damage that reference in order to "stick it to them".

A good resume with solid references can be worth a lot of money over an entire career. Seems short sided and self destructive to risk that.

[demosincebirth]

27. I don't disagree with you ,

[XanaDUer]

29. I got two hours

when I was let go. But, if I had walked out the door, I would not have gotten my vacation pay.

[gvstn]

9. I think two weeks notice

Goes to leaving on good terms, which can never hurt. If you have been there a while then two weeks notice is a courtesy. Most times a simple I have found something else and want to finish out the week is sufficient notice.

I have seen previous employers that don't like an employee or are mad that someone is quitting will simply say thanks but no thanks today is your last day--leaving the employee short of two weeks pay because they were trying to be polite.

So, I think there is no clear answer. If you like your boss and trust them give them two weeks notice. If not then just quit and explain this to future employers.

[MiddleFingerMom]

10. Even in right-to-work states (I'm in Arizona), aren't HR departments limited to...

.
.
.
...confirming that you worked for their company from point A to point B?
.
.
I didn't think they could add commentary or other details about your job
performance due to legal issues.
.
.
I DO know that if you don't give whatever the company considers proper
notice, that company almost certainly won't RE-hire you -- but I don't
think prospective employers will know.
.
.
Any HR people out there?
.
.
.

[guitar man]

12. AFAIK

and as far as I know, the only 3 legal questions are:

Did the person work there?

For how long (dates)

Are they eligible for re-hire?

[Statistical]

22. There is no law that prohibits it however many companies have policies

simply because there is no reward for the risk.

If they make a false statement that results in economic harm they can be sued for liable. Now most people won't but you have to look at it from a risk vs reward.

Making no statement.
Reward - nothing
Risk - nothing

Making statement
Reward - nothing
Risk - potential lawsuit

Still the way companies work around that is they ask for supervisor references from past employers. Leave your sup in a lurch because you walked out in the middle of a project doubt he will be given you a reference.

Lastly it doesn't really make sense because most new employers see your willingness to leave with no notice as a negative. If you will do that to your old employer and they hire you isn't it reasonable to assume you will do it to them?

[Travis_0004]

15. I say yes

There have been employees that I hated, and I walked out mid shift, but there have been employeers who I liked and will be kind of sad to move on.

Where I work now, I have no complaints, but I recently graduated college and will be moving on. They simply don't employ anybody in my field. I'll be sure to put in my 2 week notice. Even if they have the right to fire me at any time, I have no fear of them doing so. There are good employers, and bad employers. If your employer is good to you, then be good to them.

[SoCalDem]

16. Unless it's in the company policy/handbook

I think the company can end your employment ASAP. While it's nice to give notice (and used to be the norm on both sides), many companies probably figure that once you have "tendered your resignation", your heart is not there anymore (was it ever?), and if there were any hard feelings or office politics going on, they may want you out of there immediately.

Parting-mischief can devastate a company. When I was a travel consultant, a person from our rival Travel Agency told of a case where one of their employees canceled reservations "on the way out", and clients ended up without hotel rooms, flights, car rentals, etc.. One couple even had their 25th Anniversary Cruise canceled. The agency picked up the extra cost when they had to re-book last minute & had to take a better cabin..

[quaker bill]

17. I have always done it. n/t

[cling2reality]

18. apples and oranges

Not to be rude but this poll confuses two different issues.
"Right to Work" states are states where unions cannot require mandatory membership as a condition of employment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-work_law

I think you meant to talk about "At-Will" states where the employee/employer relationship is at will and either party can terminate such contract without notice.

[Statistical]

19. I think you mean "At will". "Right to work" means something else but is commonly confused with

"at will" employment.

"at will" state = Employer or employee can terminate employment at anytime for any reason unless it is a reason protected by law or their is an employment contract.

"right to work" state = Sets certain conditions on operation of Union. Namely it prohibits employees must join Union to be hired.

Don't feel bad I used the wrong term for a couple decades. The two are commonly confused.

Back to your OP:
One thing that will make me give two weeks notice.... My employer pays out unused sick & vacation time but only if you give two weeks notice.

[affrayer]

21. All I Know Is

People paid good money to get their stooges elected to pass laws to protect their wealth. If the middle class and poor want equal rights, they are going to have to pay for it as well...

[tammywammy]

24. It depends

Where I work now if I was to leave for another position I would absolutely give notice, but at my previous employer I would not have. I was laid off from my last job, but had been looking (and got my job offer the next day). At that job if you had put in two weeks it was customary for my boss to say "well, we don't need you any more then." I had planned to only give notice on Thursday the Monday before I started a new job.

Also, if you give notice and they tell you that you can leave, you can file and get for unemployment for the two weeks.

[Zephie]

25. Answer: Yes, because it's polite... But I'm guilty of just walking out in the past

I'm a politeness warrior, trained in finishing schools all across the state. I have an overdeveloped sense of politeness and even though I don't always use it, I do try my best to. I don't expect everyone to adhere to my obscene sense of correctness, however.

[socialist_n_TN]

30. I almost said "Hell no", but there are circumstances..........

where a notice would be appropriate and some where a walk off would also be appropriate. However, "At will" employment doesn't call for a two week notice. It's going to depend on the workplace.