A quick google suggests that even New York has no notice period. If this is typical of the USA, then they can simply tell you at any time to go away, and they owe you no severance unless there is a signed employment agreement or union contract that says otherwise. OTOH, you did not need to give them two weeks’ notice either. You are a good example why you might not want to give such notice.
I once quit a job and walked out because my supervisor was an incompetent boob, only to come back later to get my paycheck and find that my supervisor had told the bigger boss that he’d fired me for insubordination. Was an interesting conversation.
That’s the case in my state. At a previous company, I saw this used fairly maliciously. A star employee got promoted, but then was relentlessly dicked around by our department mangement (as many of us were). He tried to escalate some of the problems, e.g. clearly inappropriate and legally problematic behavior, and was not only ignored but also was retaliated against.
He quit and gave notice, and the management walked him out the door at that moment. When he called and asked where his check was for his notice, he was told that he wasn’t getting paid for time he didn’t work, and because he quit he wasn’t eligible for unemployment benefits either. The guy didn’t make too much money to begin with and they knew he really needed to not miss a check (his notice was right up to the time he’d start his new job), so of course that’s what they did, to punish him – even to spite ourselves, because we really had a terrible transition when he left.
It was a totally needless dick move, but there was no stopping it. Accordingly, when I left, I gave the minimum notice that I needed to in order to be considered ‘eligible for rehire’ (it was a large Fortune 100 company and I didn’t want to burn that bridge). They let me work out my notice, fortunately, but I wasn’t really sure until it happened. They were angry that I ‘only’ gave two weeks, but I explained exactly why I did it – I didn’t want to end up screwed out of a month’s pay for being a nice guy. I was polite, but I made it clear that what goes around, comes around, and I have to protect my own interests.
Unless there’s a state law or a company policy that says otherwise, or you’re on some kind of written contract, they can show you the door the moment you give your notice to resign and you really have no recourse at all. For that reason, I am very hesitant to give more than two weeks – if a company feels they want longer than that, then it should be in their policies what they expect and give some protections to employees in that position.
Fire me in Minnesota? (Where I live?) Ok, then give me my final paycheck right now motherfucker. That’s the law (in a lot of other states too).
Oh, and as it says;
“Many employers often break these laws out of ignorance, and there can be consequences if your former employee calls you on it. There are often penalties for violating the final paycheck laws, and if a former employee sues you, you could be required to pay for their attorney’s fees as well as court costs.”
Always try to give at least two weeks notice, never give more than two weeks notice.
Reading the old part of the thread without realizing it’s a zombie I was really impressed with someone willing to take, as a firm offer, a job that wouldn’t be available for 7 months.