In your shoes I’d give the zero notice. But I’d also tell the manager *why * I’m giving the zero notice.
Some managers and companies are so self-centered that they’ll hate your guts forever regardless of your reasons. You and all the other employees exist simply to serve their whims as docilely and as cheaply as possible. Other managers & companies are more realistic about how much duty everybody on both sides of the aisle owe to themselves versus to others. Their worldview is much more reciprocal.
You can’t now for sure which attitude the place you’re leaving will have. But it can’t hurt to try to depart as gently, but as quickly, as possible. You didn’t put yourself in this timeline vice; somebody else did.
I don’t think so because MikeG’s (and everyone else’s) reply was given in the context of the OP having to give up something potentially important himself- an additional burden- in order to give the notice.
If his reply had been given without being in that context but in the context of all other things being equal, then perhaps the harsher overtones of “giving notice being for suckers” and “management/employee antagonism” or whatever the exact wording was, could be read into suggesting he do what was best for himself rather than what was best for the company.
Personally, if “all other things were equal,” I would have suggested following the established business etiquette and giving the two week’s notice. But him taking on an additional burden or risk himself over it makes it a different equation.
If you can give notice without hurting yourself, then you should since you’ll leave a better impression behind. In this case, you’d have to break your health insurance, which would hurt you. Also you’re not a full employee of the company, you’re just in a probationary period which is designed to let them fire you without notice, so you don’t really owe them much. I would tell the manager that you’re quitting on short notice because of how it will work for your health insurance to lessen the chance that they’ll take it badly.
Exactly what I was thinking. Assuming the state where you work (if it’s in the US) is a hire/fire at will state, they can can your ass without any notice or any reason, effective immediately. (As long as it’s not illegal, like they’re firing you because you’re disabled.) Two week notice is nice, but honestly, most businesses wouldn’t hesitate to fire someone immediately.
from an HR point of view, you should never let a fired, or just quit employee remain in their position; there’s just too many things that can go wrong, on both sides. its for the protection of both the employee and company.
But that’s not how I, Eureka, PHall, or Count Blucher interpreted it. The ‘giving notice is for suckers’ is heavily implied, because how else would the conversation have played out? Everyone knows what the answer to the question is. It would look like this:
“Would they give you notice if they fired you?”
“Well, no.”
“Then you don’t owe them any more consideration.”
It’s never going to go:
“Would they give you notice if they fired you?”
“Well, no.”
“Then you should TOTALLY be the bigger person, and work your notice. Show them by example that there’s another option.”
My company fires people with no notice all the time (well, if you’re completely ignoring the multiple counseling sessions with your supervisor and HR, written PIP, and increased audits), but should I decide to leave in the future, that’s not going to factor into my decision to give notice. In this case what the company would do in a hypothetical situation shouldn’t factor into it. The much greater criteria of “I’ve only been there 7 weeks” and “If I don’t jump ship now, I won’t have health insurance for another two months” is all that really matters. Of course the OP should leave, with an apology, without working out a notice. But not because he could get fired tomorrow.
Can you not carry over / continue your health insurance over the 2 month period?
What is it, COBRA or something?
In any case, i’m sure your current boss will understand that the IRS will fine you for not having insurance for the 2 months and you have to do what ever works best there.
Actually, that’s all too often exactly how it goes. The “be the bigger man” line is nearly always directed at the person expected to take it in the shorts. Honestly, have you ever heard of anyone asking a deadbeat relative why he/she is willing to let money come before family? No, it’s always asked of the one getting the shaft.