# You won the lottery. Do you give your employers 2 weeks' notice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 6, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685 "2015-10-06T03:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/101 "2015-10-07T16:29:09Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > I’m curious about those who are saying they’d give two weeks notice and train their replacement: between posting the job, interviewing multiple candidates multiple times and vetting/background checking the preferred candidate, it would be extremely optimistic to say your replacement would be sitting at your desk in fewer than 6-8 weeks. You’re willing to give The Man that time when you have 100 million sitting in your back pocket? My field is one where several other people can step in, but it’s easier if the same person wraps up each individual project from start to finish. While that’s not possible in every case, it’s possible in enough cases that I’d want to minimize the inconvenience to the people taking over my docket by finishing as many as possible. That would still leave more and more time during the final days to set up the details of the lifestyle to which I would intend to become accustomed and go on an online shopping spree. (I could do that anyway for stuff I can afford on my current income; they don’t care about personal Internet use as long as you don’t bogart the bandwidth, avoid accessing anything embarrassing, and are getting your work done.) ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/102 "2015-10-07T16:38:56Z")
In our scenario, the most I’d do would be to call and say I wouldn’t be coming back. I am completely replaceable. In fact, I think my co-workers would appreciate the overtime my quitting may provide. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/103 "2015-10-07T17:07:06Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > All depends on how much I like the job/coworkers/boss. If I like them well enough than yeah, I probably would. If not, then they can suck it. Thanks for answering for everyone, but I think you missed the point of the question… would YOU give YOUR employers 2 weeks notice? IOW, do you currently like them well enough or can they suck it? Personally I love where I work, and I the people I work with are friends of mine as well. (Hey, I just passed 11 years with the same company!) I would definitely try to give 2 weeks, plus additional help where I could, after the fact. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/104 "2015-10-07T17:14:16Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > and I would spend a month getting him up to speed at the client site for which I am responsible. And at no point during that month would you start to think, “You know, I’m a multi-millionaire, I can go to the Bahamas right this minute if I want, is this stuff really my problem? Do I really need this hassle?” ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/105 "2015-10-07T17:38:47Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > I’m curious about those who are saying they’d give two weeks notice and train their replacement: between posting the job, interviewing multiple candidates multiple times and vetting/background checking the preferred candidate, it would be extremely optimistic to say your replacement would be sitting at your desk in fewer than 6-8 weeks. You’re willing to give The Man that time when you have 100 million sitting in your back pocket? Nah, there are ~70 people in my classification and a few handfuls with the appropriate certification, but only 7 in my section. They’d just move somebody, because it is a slot that must be filled. Unfortunately said classification is too broad ( we really should be re-classified and differently certified ), so a moderate bit of training is required. And it’s not at all about The Man, who I could give a shit about, but primarily about my co-workers because that is 7 people covering a 24/7 operation. Also there are certain other practicalities involving separation dates, pensions and all the rest. The closer I get to retirement the less likely I am to stick around long. But at this point it is no great hardship and has some minor practical advantages to not just walking out the door. Y’know - unless they piss me off, like I said. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/106 "2015-10-07T17:42:26Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > And at no point during that month would you start to think, “You know, I’m a multi-millionaire, I can go to the Bahamas right this minute if I want, is this stuff really my problem? Do I really need this hassle?” I am certain i would think that, but dumping my current project on someone would have a bad effect on the company. I have built up a lot of good will and trust with the client that would be a shame to see go down the drain ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/107 "2015-10-07T17:47:16Z")
I would give my employer about a 6-month notice and go on a part time of 30 hours a week. The reason being that I truly, very much love my career and I have a lot of responsibilities and am the lead for my entire technology area in my company. My leaving suddenly would create a lot of turmoil which would hurt my subordinates, putting them under a large amount of stress to try to come up to speed and take over the 17 projects I currently manage. Also, I really like my clients - some of them I’ve worked with for more than 20 years - and I couldn’t leave their projects in the lurch. And it’s not like I wouldn’t be enjoying myself during those 6 months. I’d have my chauffeur ferry me to and from work, I’d have gourmet lunches with Fierra every day, I could hire a masseuse to visit me at work when I want, and any time I flew for business I’d pay for an upgrade to First for my entire team and put us in a 5-star hotel. Why not? ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/108 "2015-10-07T19:00:05Z")
A companion thread [on working life](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=771293) may shed some light on my position on this: > [@](#): > > I was self supporting at age 19. I am now 62, so my working life as per the OP is 43 years I started working for the company when I was 25, so I have spent 86% of my working life at this company. > > Edited to add: This also equates to 60% of my total life ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/109 "2015-10-07T19:04:37Z")
I’d stay long enough to train co-workers on what I do but it’d be on MY terms. I wouldn’t be working full days. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/110 "2015-10-07T19:21:20Z")
I’d stick around just long enough to wish my coworkers well and flip off my boss. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/111 "2015-10-07T21:07:33Z")
Too late to edit. Nah, on second thought I wouldn’t flip off the boss, I’d feel bad about it later. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/112 "2015-10-07T23:08:25Z")
I admire all the posters who have said they’d stay and work, but I still suspect that in real life, if you guys truly suddenly got $100 million, you’d find your job suddenly unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/113 "2015-10-07T23:08:32Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > The reason being that I truly, very much love my career and I have a lot of responsibilities and am the lead for my entire technology area in my company. It’d be funny if you left and developed an electric vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/114 "2015-10-07T23:25:11Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I admire all the posters who have said they’d stay and work, but I still suspect that in real life, if you guys truly suddenly got $100 million, you’d find your job suddenly unbearable. I would not continue to work beyond making sure there was a smooth transition for the client. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/115 "2015-10-07T23:37:10Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I admire all the posters who have said they’d stay and work, but I still suspect that in real life, if you guys truly suddenly got $100 million, you’d find your job suddenly unbearable. For me it it’s because I like and admire the ladies who own the two agencies I work for. One I’ve known for many years. It would be more about not screwing them, than about liking my work. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/116 "2015-10-07T23:49:16Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > For me it it’s because I like and admire the ladies who own the two agencies I work for. One I’ve known for many years. It would be more about not screwing them, than about liking my work. I like the people I work with/for too, but I would almost certainly no-call no-show the instant I had $100million, and I’d expect them to do the same. If i _really_ felt bad about _screwing_ them, I’d just cut 'em a check to make them happy and ease any guilt. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/117 "2015-10-08T01:08:59Z")
I’d keep working but buy a new vehicle one notch up from the owner’s and park it in his space every day until they fired me. Eh, they are nice people and they’ve treated me fairly so I’d work with them. Honestly, they’d be able to replace me fairly easily. Might take a few hires to get someone that gives a shit to the extent I do but they’d find one eventually. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/118 "2015-10-08T01:15:38Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I’d keep working but buy a new vehicle one notch up from the owner’s and park it in his space every day until they fired me. > Eh, they are nice people and they’ve treated me fairly so I’d work with them. Honestly, they’d be able to replace me fairly easily. Might take a few hires to get someone that gives a shit to the extent I do but they’d find one eventually. But I think that there is the point. $100million would decrease the extent of your shits given immediately. Essentially making almost ANYone’s given shit extentions well past yours. And of course, by “your/s” I mean “my/mine”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/119 "2015-10-08T01:45:52Z")
I wouldn’t even wait out the day. Or fill out the 401K transfer papers. Screw em, they can keep it. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/120 "2015-10-08T02:26:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I admire all the posters who have said they’d stay and work, but I still suspect that in real life, if you guys truly suddenly got $100 million, you’d find your job suddenly unbearable. But my job is pretty cool right now. Most days I honest to goodness have fun at work - it’s challenging, rewarding, I like my co-workers and clients, I have a comfy office and a great secretary, and I feel like I’m making the world a slightly, slightly better place. My job treats me well and it’s a point of personal honor that I would not leave my co-workers and clients in the lurch. (shrug) it’s just how I feel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685.md?page=7)