# Most of the world wants 3 months notice when you quit a job? Vs only 2 weeks in the US **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 6, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571 "2020-02-06T23:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/61 "2020-02-09T01:34:39Z")
we interviewed a guy and he was not working. The next day he shows up and one of the bosses says why are you here? And he says to start work. they did not tell anyone he was starting work that day. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/62 "2020-02-09T01:44:28Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Anders Hejlsberg t. Oops, sidetracked into thinking about employment lead time. In Aus, there is no mandated minimum notice for when you quit a job. It may be in your contract or award. If you don’t give notice, they can take the period out of your holiday pay. You could contract for loss of accrued pay on leaving without notice. That would be in some contracts. Not in my contract. You could actually contract a penalty completion clause. Not common in labour contracts. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/63 "2020-02-09T09:32:51Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > ``` > And I've heard recently that many places have decided the cost savings with India staff is not worth it due to low quality of work. So they are moving work back here. Penny wise and pound foolish. I even know a guy from India who got rid of his India staff due to quality issues and the time zone difference. > > ``` IME companies still use primarily India outsourcing firms like Cognizant, Tata and Wipro. But they are usually regarded as cheap, low quality IT labor. Fine, if all you care about is cost. For a variety of reasons, including better quality, less of a time zone or language barrier, and also cost, companies seem to be looking into places like Argentina or Poland for outsourced IT labor. > [@GMANCANADA](#): > > **@ Aspidistra** > I think this assumption is wrong. In most places they recognize that it’s far easier for an employer to find a new employee than an employee to find a new suitable job. This is not always true. Particularly for skilled or very senior jobs. The difference is that the company typically won’t go bankrupt if you quit. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/64 "2020-02-10T01:26:18Z")
Slovenia. It depends on how many years you worked for someone. 15 - 80 days. Can be overruled with basic contract, so defacto in 90% cases is 30 days just for using template and inertia. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/65 "2020-02-10T08:53:53Z")
In countries with a 3-month notice period, what happens if you quit and just stop coming to work? Can your (former) employer sue you? If so, for how much? ---
**Author:** ![Premislaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f0a364/32.png) [@Premislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Premislaus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/66 "2020-02-11T00:27:11Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > We had some co-workers in Poland, and they had to give 3 months notice. I assume (but it’s just a WAG) that if the employer is going to terminate you, they also have to give 3 months. But that’s a guess. I’m Polish. It’s: - 2 weeks if you’ve worked at a place less than 6 months - 1 month if you’ve worked at a place less than 3 years - 3 months if you’ve worked at a place for more than 3 years This can be disregarded if both parties agree and doesn’t apply in cases of disciplinary firing (“escorted out of a building” thing). TBF as an employee I think 3 months is excessive and encourages job hopping as almost no company will wait 4-5 months (you have to include the recruitment phase) for someone. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/67 "2020-02-11T00:44:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > In countries with a 3-month notice period, what happens if you quit and just stop coming to work? Can your (former) employer sue you? If so, for how much? I heard that in India if you don’t stay 3 months it looks very bad to your new employer. I suppose they could even pull their offer and you have to find some other new job. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/68 "2020-02-11T01:39:19Z")
I’m in New Zealand. My employment contract has 1 month’s notice period. My employer could elect to pay me in lieu of notice, to get me out the door the same day. If I gave notice and decided not to come to work, they have no obligation to continue to pay me if I’m not there. I’d get accumulated annual leave paid out is all. Employment law does not mandate any particular period, but it is suggested it be 2-4 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/69 "2020-02-11T06:06:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > In countries with a 3-month notice period, what happens if you quit and just stop coming to work? Can your (former) employer sue you? If so, for how much? The former employer would probably not need to sue. The situation is already covered by the contract, which would be enforced. When someone applies to a job here, at least white-collar, they have to provide not only the curriculum vitae (similar to a resume) but also the documentation for their education and work history, including statements from their former companies about what they did. In the above scenario, the new employer would expect to get this work statement from the previous company. If the employee stops showing up at the previous company, they will lose the new contract, lose the existing job, and have problems finding a new job. Of course this only matter is the employee is staying within Switzerland. If they are leaving the country, it matters less. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/70 "2020-02-11T06:26:04Z")
But what if the new employer wants the worker to start working right away? Would’t they just ignore the absence of a work statement? I mean, it seems kind of weird: “I want you do commit a crime for me: leave your old job without notice.” “Done.” “Sorry, I can’t hire you. You committed a crime”. Unless this was some kind of sting operation, why would the new employer care about a work statement? Also, what if you do give 3 months’ notice, but your old employer resents you leaving (or is just an asshole) and still doesn’t want to issue a work statement? What happens then? ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/71 "2020-02-11T18:07:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > But what if the new employer wants the worker to start working right away? Would’t they just ignore the absence of a work statement? > > I mean, it seems kind of weird: “I want you do commit a crime for me: leave your old job without notice.” “Done.” “Sorry, I can’t hire you. You committed a crime”. Unless this was some kind of sting operation, why would the new employer care about a work statement? > > Also, what if you do give 3 months’ notice, but your old employer resents you leaving (or is just an asshole) and still doesn’t want to issue a work statement? What happens then? [Code of obligations](https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19110009/index.html#a337b) > [@](#): > > a. Termination for good cause > > 1 Where the good cause for terminating the employment relationship with immediate effect consists in breach of contract by one party, he is fully liable in damages with due regard to all claims arising under the employment relationship. > > 2 In other eventualities the court determines the financial consequences of termination with immediate effect at its discretion, taking due account of all the circumstances. The party that breached the contract is liable for damages. The court decides. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/72 "2020-02-11T19:46:15Z")
I resigned and got severance but that is rare. I was there a long time and they liked me so I got a couple months pay. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/73 "2020-02-11T20:34:20Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Have ex-employees here been walked out the door by security? Not by security, but I have been escorted out. I once left a job in a secure facility that required badges to be visible at all times. On my scheduled last day I came in, went to security and signed an NDA, went to my going-away lunch, then my supervisor walked me to the door and I handed him my badge before leaving. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/74 "2020-02-11T20:37:54Z")
Yes, I’ve been walked to the door. When I arrived at work my logins had already been disabled. Pretty standard for people who have access to critical systems. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/75 "2020-02-12T00:30:00Z")
Employment contracts for physicians in the private sector are getting horrible in the US. In addition to ‘no compete’ clauses (which forbid you from practicing within 150 miles or so of your previous practice), some larger medical conglomerates require 6 months notice! We had a physician want to join us in the prison system, and they still tried to make the ‘no compete’ clause apply, even though there was no way his patients would be following him to his new practice. AND while we wanted his help right away, he had to work another 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571/76 "2020-02-12T01:11:41Z")
There was an interesting piece on today’s (2/11/2020) Marketplace (NPR) about the origins and changes to the 2 week notice in the US. It is purely custom in the US, and there are pressures to eliminate it. > **[Marketplace](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/381444600/marketplace)** > > Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day's business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. "Marketplace" takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-of-the-world-wants-3-months-notice-when-you-quit-a-job-vs-only-2-weeks-in-the-us/847571.md?page=3)