Did they really try to accommodate or just give it lip service? If they didn’t really try, then fuck them, they didn’t keep the agreement.
I understand about the concept of at-will. I agree with it. Both ways. I have no problem in general with an employee leaving because he got a better deal somewhere else. I think the employee should be professional about it but that’s my opinion on the morality of the situation. I don’t think notices or any other convention like that should be enforced through legislation.
You’ve done a good job describing the what the legalities are but that isn’t my issue here. Just because the employer can legally be an asshole and because the employee can legally be an asshole, doesn’t mean that it’s ok from a moral point of view to be an asshole.
If the time came and he had a change of heart and decided to quit because he missed his family so much, I might have some minor issues with it if it was at the very last minute, but I would have been understanding.
If the theater told him that he could have the day off and then re-scheduled him to work, even if it was for legitimate unforeseen circumstances, I would sympathize with the employee if he was angry.
My main issue as far as that goes is that VC03 agreed to something, knew it was coming for months, and then threw a hissy fit because he had to do it. Furthermore, he’s such an entitled ass that he thinks that all of us should have to stop our lives because of his particular family traditions.