When an Employee Gives Two Weeks’ Notice

Video Highlights:

00:52 Make sure you comply with the law. Most states have adopted the “employment-at-will” doctrine, which generally allows you to discharge an employee for any reason, or no reason at all, at any time and without advance notice.

01:25 Look carefully at your employee handbook: Courts have ruled that handbooks that do not have a proper employment-at-will disclaimer may lead employees to reasonably expect continued employment.

01:47 Check to see if company policy requires employees to give two weeks’ notice before leaving.

02:26 Some employers faced with an employee giving notice opt to pay the employee for the two-week period he or she intended to work.

02:54 You may want to let your departing employee serve out his final two weeks, even if there is no legal cause to do so.

03:01 Remember, terminating employees when they give notice sends a message to other employees, who may choose to leave without warning when they find a new job.

03:18 If the employee is in good standing and can be expected to work diligently until departing, allowing the final two weeks signals your commitment to the remaining employees.