What You Need To Know About Giving Two Weeks’ Notice When Quitting

As you navigate the workplace ending your relationship with an employer is a natural part of employment. Etiquette generally calls for a two-week heads-up to your manager to let them know you’ll be leaving. But can an employer deny your two weeks’ notice?

First and foremost, keep in mind that despite your work ethic and history with a company, circumstances may not always work in your favor. You may provide a courtesy two weeks’ notice to inform them that you’re moving on. However, due to the needs of the business, a company may legally terminate your employment immediately. This exact scenario happened to Kelsi, who shared her story on TikTok.

In the video, Kelsi describes a conversation with her manager, who affirmed that she would stay employed through her two weeks’ notice. She was later surprised to find out that the company had a policy to make all notices to resign effective immediately. Her manager seemed to fail to consult human resources, which left Kelsi in a difficult position.

The practice of an employee giving employers a two-week notice is a gesture of goodwill to maintain a good rapport with the company. It gives the company time to find a replacement and ensure there is little disturbance to their productivity. Some companies also require a two-week notice to be eligible for rehire.

That said, there are “no federal or state two-week notice laws that require an employee to provide two weeks’ notice to his or her employer before quitting,” according to the Employment Law Handbook. 

Americans are employed at-will, meaning a business can legally end your employment for any reason other than discrimination or retaliation at any time. Only the state of Montana is excluded from this regulation. That also means that as an employee, you’re free to quit anytime for any reason.

But worry not; if you are let go when you submit your notice, you may be able to file for unemployment to receive benefits while you transition to your next gig. HG.org states, “Typically, unemployment benefits are only available to those employees who lost their jobs involuntarily. There is an exception to this rule known as constructive discharge. This occurs when the conditions of employment were so unbearable that they would have caused a reasonable person to quit.”

Since unemployment laws are based on state laws, you can either apply and see if you’re approved for unemployment or consult an employment legal attorney. 

So, can an employer deny two weeks’ notice? They absolutely can. The best thing you can do is be prepared and squared away so your needs are taken care of when you’re ready to depart from a company for another opportunity.