Employee Gets Accused Of Trying To Sabotage The Company By Handing In 2 Weeks’ Notice Right Before The Holidays
The standard rule of thumb for most jobs is that when it’s time to move onto something else, it’s polite to give your employer two weeks’ notice before leaving. This 14-day timeline is not written in stone, and in certain cases, employees might provide more notice to help their team out or less notice to escape a particularly hostile workplace. But two weeks is usually the magic number.
One employee, however, recently reached out to the Antiwork subreddit with concerns about their boss denying their two weeks’ notice request. They’ve been told they must give 4-8 weeks notice instead, so they’ve taken to the internet to ask if this arbitrary timeline can actually be enforced. Below, you can read the employee’s full explanation, as well as some of the replies readers have left to try to help them out, and then let us know in the comments how you feel about this situation.
Have you ever left a job with more or less than two weeks’ notice? Feel free to share your personal experiences with your fellow pandas in the comments, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article highlighting that handing in your notice doesn’t always go as planned, you can find that right here!
After their two weeks’ notice was rejected, this employee sought advice online to see if their boss could legally require them to work longer
Image credits: Kelly Sikkema (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Scott Graham (not the actual photo)
Image credits: CaterpillarWeak893
Invested readers had lots of questions, so the employee later clarified more details in the replies
This employee noted in their post that they live in Canada, so we did a bit of research to find out what exactly an employee’s rights are in Canada. According to About Staffing, a staffing agency in Calgary, it’s actually not a requirement to even provide two weeks’s notice. It is considered a courteous gesture, as it often takes at least a few weeks to hire a new employee and learn how to adjust to having one less worker, but no, this employer cannot force their staff to come in after the two weeks that they have notified management of are up.
What is required by common law in Canada is giving an employer “reasonable notice”. “Two weeks’ notice is the norm, but under common law, this is not an expressly required amount of time,” About Staffing explains on their site. “Your version of a reasonable amount of time might be less than or more than two weeks notice. The purpose of this is to allow your employer to have enough time to find a replacement to fill your role. This is required of you, whether or not there is an employment contract in place.”
A boss is also not allowed to prevent any employee from quitting if that is what they desire. “While they may try to convince you or bully you into staying, they cannot legally prevent you from leaving the position,” About Staffing notes. “However, if you have signed a contract, you will want to take a look at that and ensure that you did not agree to work a specific number of days or through specific calendar dates.”
In the case of this employee on Reddit, as far as we know, they are legally allowed to leave after the two weeks’ notice that they submitted. It is likely that their employer just started panicking about being understaffed around the holidays and decided to use fear as a desperate attempt to get the employee to stay. According to Robert Half Talent Solutions, it is common for a manager to request that their employee stay longer than two weeks after they’ve decided to leave, but it is a request not a demand.
“While employees may legally be free to walk away within two weeks of giving notice, [employers] need time to delegate duties and recruit a suitable replacement,” Robert Half explains. “In this case, you can negotiate with employees to extend their tenure at your organization. Clearly, you’ll want to do this as soon as possible. Also, remember that they’re free to decline your request.”
We’ve reached out to this employee on Reddit, so hopefully we will be receiving an update on the situation soon, but as of now, I’m just hoping that they don’t feel bullied into staying any longer at a job they hate. There are too many toxic employers out there, and they’re never going to learn their lesson if they keep steamrolling workers into doing whatever they want all the time. We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments, pandas, and if you’ve ever been pressured into staying past your two weeks’ notice, feel free to share how you handled that conflict. Then if you’re interested in reading another Bored Panda article featuring employers who did not take a worker’s resignation well, you can find that right here!
But one thing everyone agreed on is that the employee cannot be forced to stick around past their two weeks
I'm old and retired now, but when I was in the working world (here in Canada), you generally gave the amount of notice of your pay period. If you got paid weekly, you gave a week's notice. If you got paid every two weeks, that's the notice you gave, and so on and so forth.
Standard in the UK is pay period, or more if agreed mutually by contract (which includes offer letter, terms and conditions, and anything else you sign directly related to you starting work). In my industry 3 months is common, with 6 months for more senior staff.
Load More Replies...Maybe things are different in Canada than in The States, but: 1) An offer letter is not a legally binding contract. 2) You are an employee, not an indentured servant. 3) It's not your fault that they didn't hire enough people to keep the business operating without you.
Actually, in Canada, the letter of offer is the contract of employment. Two copies are made, both signed by hiring manager, both signed by the new employee, and the office keeps one copy, employee keeps the other. Here the letter of offer outlines salary, expectations, benefits, company pension contributions/entitlement, notice period, etc. By signing the offer, you are agreeing to the terms set out in the offer. HOWEVER no one actually pursues legal action against someone who quits without notice either, it just means you cannot collect employment insurance (depending on the circumstances for why you quit without notice, we have a lot of employee protections in Canada 😁) But your listed #'s 2 and 3 are 100% fact.
Load More Replies...My petty american a*s would burn that bridge in a second. She's straight up harassing you. I'd walk out with my middle fingers in the air. Then again, I'm a different breed and probably need anger management or something lol
Not at all. You are asking to be treated like a human being and not a resource, to be used up.
Load More Replies...If my boss reacted this way, I'd give her a new letter of resignation outlining her threats, and explaining that I am leaving, effective immediately. The very idea of taking legal action against a line worker is appaling and abusive.
Two weeks is more than generous nowadays for company's that have no loyalty to their workers! Tell her to pound sand and that you could give her 2 seconds notice if she pisses you off!
I am in Canada and have seen employees try to pull stuff like this off before. I guy that was part-time at the building I worked in the city had temporary full time and end up get hired full-time at another building. He literally updated them through the whole process and then gave a notice that was actually a month ahead but they didn't take it seriously and then snapped on him just before he left. The manager also tried to give him a bad reference before that because they were understaffed and we're using this guy to plug all the wholes that other full-time staff wouldn't do.
I would challenge that threat. I would put in my 2 weeks notice and if that boss said " we will take legal action" I would simply say "ok see you in court" and walk out. That boss isn't going to court. She can barely hold a company together. I love challenging people's weak threats!!!!
maybe if employers treated/paid their employees better they wouldn't be out looking for other jobs.
I'm sure at least in Germany, you are treated like a human being, unlike the US where we are a "resource".
Load More Replies...My first thought to respond was "They don't provide you two weeks when you're fired or let go, attitude like that doesn't deserve one day". But then I read it was contract and Canada. I'm jealous Canada doesn't have at will. It's a freaking joke down here in the US. But I agree with people. Verbage is important when lawsuits happen, and if the lady is threatening legal action, she'll have a hell of a time fighting "two weeks" as apposed to "14 business days".
If employers expect two weeks notice, then we should expect two weeks severance. Seems only fair.
Load More Replies...What's amazing is that same boss will fire you that day with no 2 weeks notice. I only give 2 weeks notice to companies I respect and wouldn't mind working for again. I'm not a toxic worker but have worked for toxic companies. Even weirder is the companies I did respect the most and treated me the best were the most dangerous to my life. The worst companies were tech or service that did almost nothing in terms of activity or work.
Nothing but empty threats from an incompetent boss. Everything the boss complained about is her problem NOT OPs problem.
Since there are 5 days before 2 Christmas holidays on the weekend, and 5 days after, you have fulfilled your 14 days. Your company doesn't include weekends in your regular work week. The only day you might be short is if you're off for Boxing Day, a Monday. You can work an extra day at your discretion, but you'll have fulfilled your 14 days either way. Enjoy your new job! (And make sure you have written copies of your 2 week notice just in case).
Most people get a paid holiday off and when holidays are on the weekend they get a working day off. For instance, my husband has Friday off this week for Xmas Eve and Monday for Xmas.
Load More Replies...Generally, if it is written as two weeks, then it is two weeks, holidays and stuff shouldn't matter unless it is written as 10 work days. Though laws do depend on country, so getting some official legal advice from lawyer would be best course of action. But I am pretty sure his old employer is just trying to use scare tactics on him to bully him into delaying. And yeah, one of my coworkers actually walked into getting with supervisors in company of his lawyer so they couldn't pull off any tricks like that. :-D Because they were trying to get him to sign new contract he didn't agree to.
In Australia, a contract will state length of notice, but you can actually quit with a minutes notice if you need to. It just means that you won't get paid for the remaining time that you weren't there. Nothing more. No-one is going to spend 2 - 4 months worth of your wages to get you to work an extra couple of weeks.
Like others have said a contract that says 2 weeks notice is 2 weeks. Not 12 calendar days. Otherwise it would be listed as such. Yes follow up with an email stating what day is your last day. And hold firm to that.. If she continues to make the job a hostile work environment report it to HR and also followup with an email and make it your last day. Don't let someone bully or harass you or make you feel guilty. You are following your contract. congrats on the new job. If you have to end the 2 weeks early due to this boss take a 2 week rest and relaxation. Maybe treat yourself to a spa day. You deserve it.
Gee, I could never imagine why they're having a hard time staying fully staffed. Seriously though, people don't quit jobs, they quit shìtty managers. And yeah, two weeks is 14 calendar days and is generally seen as a nicety not an overt legal obligation. A court would laugh her out of the place. They'd possibly be nicer about it and apologize afterwards,though. It is Canada, afterall. If she spoke to me like that it would be the last thing I ever heard from her because I'd immediately leave. Go ahead and sue me, you're about to be terribly disappointed.
Everyone has already provided the proper answer: two weeks' notice is only a courtesy, and in no way a legal obligation. Your boss is upset about having to fulfill actually fulfill some of the tough duties that are squarely hers by virtue of her position and pay, and instead attemting to push them on you. Neverthess let's imagine for the moment that she actually did have some sort of legal standing to back her up. If they are so short-staffed and overworked that she's trying to strongarm you into staying a couple weeks longer, do you think they'd add to that burden, and possibly all sorts of additional legal costs--by pursuing legal action against you over a couple weeks of work? It's a catch 22, the very reasons she is attempting to extort unjust work out of you would also prevent them from pursuing legal action, even if they had any such options, which they don't. Never go back. THREATS immediately void any right to courtesy notice such as you offered.
First off you need to contact HR at your company's headquarters and arrange an immediate 'sit-down' with the head of that dept. in order to verify what is specifically required in this situation, and while there file a complaint against your boss for 'bullying' you, by telling you that you needed to give at least four to eight weeks of notice and that the Company could pursue legal matters if you left before your "contract" was up. Be sure to put this in writing and leave it with HR whether they will accept it or not; also if they will not accept it E-mail them and also forward a copy via standard mail, certified, to ensure it is understood your conversation was serious as to the nature of your concerns, and also, if there any abusive behavior from anyone you will walk out then and there.
They will just have to bite the bullet. If it says 2 weeks in your contract and does not spell out that it's has to be "business" days or state that you must give longer notice due to peak periods, then tell them to "kick rocks". Really odd how that only works in the employer's favor seeing as how if they want to fire you, they do NOT give you 2 weeks notice? ( or longer if job market is tough so you can find other employment) 🤔
The person's contract says two weeks. So, two weeks (not 10 business days) it is. If they had been able to offer a long period of notice I suspect they would have done so, but they can't. If the person really doesn't want to burn their bridges with this company, they might need to have a quiet word with HR and let them know what's been happening, and the threats the boss has made.
I'm in Canada, there is no way they can force you to stay longer. It's a courtesy, and your boss is delusional. You can leave earlier if you choose. Contrary to popular belief, the bridge is burnt. Move on to your new job.
Also In Canada, unless stated explicitly in the contract, giving notice is not required and is more a courtesy thing.
Employers do not give staff 2 weeks notice before firing, so they should get NOTHING. Claim harrassment and threaten to sue.
Someone who is retiring could feasibly give 6 months notice where their contract requires only 1 month - using this boss's arguments all subsequent retirees would have to give the same notice. Personally, I take the view that it is nice if people give as much notice as possible, as there is less chance their soon-to-be-ex colleagues will be stuck covering their role for ages, but there is always a possibility that a conditional offer may be pulled at the last minute and the a good chance new employer will often want an employee to start as soon as possible, so often minimal notice is the only appropriate course of action.
I can't imagine you would be legally obligated to work in an environment where you are being harassed and threatened. Document the abuse, email her boss/superior about it immediately, and if they cannot or will not find a space for you to work in where you will not be subject to harassment from this person, leave immediately. If she is the highest up in the company, leave immediately. Either way, put it in writing through email (and CC your own personal email address for proof) that you had given your 2 weeks notice as required by the terms of your employment but due to the hostile work environment and continuing harassment, will be leaving effective immediately.
Because she's supposed to start the new job before 10 business days. If she put her notice in last Friday (the 16th) her last day would be Dec 30. Provided they get 3 holiday days for Xmas Eve Xmas day and boxing day that's three days short of 10 working days (she stated the don't work weekends.) If they take the entire time between Xmas and NYD that's 5 days short.
Load More Replies...From Canada here. Two weeks' notice means two work weeks, not more, like fourteen days of work.
Personally, I'd just give the old middle finger and walk out on the spot. Probably financial suicide, but hey
I volunteer for a non-profit and we had just one paid employee (cook) who decided to give her 2 week's notice right before Christmas. Considering our holiday schedule, this was 6 working days. What that meant for me was sleepless nights and a ruined holiday season trying to find someone. We scrambled to get volunteers to do the job for about a month. There are 2 sides to every story.
Any time you are so dependent on one employee, your business is vulnerable. She could have gotten run over by a truck on the way to work. A well run business has a contingency plan for the loss of any key employee. Don’t blame her for your poor planning!
Load More Replies...why do people ask these kind of questions on reddit, as opposed to a lawyer specializing in labor law?
I'm old and retired now, but when I was in the working world (here in Canada), you generally gave the amount of notice of your pay period. If you got paid weekly, you gave a week's notice. If you got paid every two weeks, that's the notice you gave, and so on and so forth.
Standard in the UK is pay period, or more if agreed mutually by contract (which includes offer letter, terms and conditions, and anything else you sign directly related to you starting work). In my industry 3 months is common, with 6 months for more senior staff.
Load More Replies...Maybe things are different in Canada than in The States, but: 1) An offer letter is not a legally binding contract. 2) You are an employee, not an indentured servant. 3) It's not your fault that they didn't hire enough people to keep the business operating without you.
Actually, in Canada, the letter of offer is the contract of employment. Two copies are made, both signed by hiring manager, both signed by the new employee, and the office keeps one copy, employee keeps the other. Here the letter of offer outlines salary, expectations, benefits, company pension contributions/entitlement, notice period, etc. By signing the offer, you are agreeing to the terms set out in the offer. HOWEVER no one actually pursues legal action against someone who quits without notice either, it just means you cannot collect employment insurance (depending on the circumstances for why you quit without notice, we have a lot of employee protections in Canada 😁) But your listed #'s 2 and 3 are 100% fact.
Load More Replies...My petty american a*s would burn that bridge in a second. She's straight up harassing you. I'd walk out with my middle fingers in the air. Then again, I'm a different breed and probably need anger management or something lol
Not at all. You are asking to be treated like a human being and not a resource, to be used up.
Load More Replies...If my boss reacted this way, I'd give her a new letter of resignation outlining her threats, and explaining that I am leaving, effective immediately. The very idea of taking legal action against a line worker is appaling and abusive.
Two weeks is more than generous nowadays for company's that have no loyalty to their workers! Tell her to pound sand and that you could give her 2 seconds notice if she pisses you off!
I am in Canada and have seen employees try to pull stuff like this off before. I guy that was part-time at the building I worked in the city had temporary full time and end up get hired full-time at another building. He literally updated them through the whole process and then gave a notice that was actually a month ahead but they didn't take it seriously and then snapped on him just before he left. The manager also tried to give him a bad reference before that because they were understaffed and we're using this guy to plug all the wholes that other full-time staff wouldn't do.
I would challenge that threat. I would put in my 2 weeks notice and if that boss said " we will take legal action" I would simply say "ok see you in court" and walk out. That boss isn't going to court. She can barely hold a company together. I love challenging people's weak threats!!!!
maybe if employers treated/paid their employees better they wouldn't be out looking for other jobs.
I'm sure at least in Germany, you are treated like a human being, unlike the US where we are a "resource".
Load More Replies...My first thought to respond was "They don't provide you two weeks when you're fired or let go, attitude like that doesn't deserve one day". But then I read it was contract and Canada. I'm jealous Canada doesn't have at will. It's a freaking joke down here in the US. But I agree with people. Verbage is important when lawsuits happen, and if the lady is threatening legal action, she'll have a hell of a time fighting "two weeks" as apposed to "14 business days".
If employers expect two weeks notice, then we should expect two weeks severance. Seems only fair.
Load More Replies...What's amazing is that same boss will fire you that day with no 2 weeks notice. I only give 2 weeks notice to companies I respect and wouldn't mind working for again. I'm not a toxic worker but have worked for toxic companies. Even weirder is the companies I did respect the most and treated me the best were the most dangerous to my life. The worst companies were tech or service that did almost nothing in terms of activity or work.
Nothing but empty threats from an incompetent boss. Everything the boss complained about is her problem NOT OPs problem.
Since there are 5 days before 2 Christmas holidays on the weekend, and 5 days after, you have fulfilled your 14 days. Your company doesn't include weekends in your regular work week. The only day you might be short is if you're off for Boxing Day, a Monday. You can work an extra day at your discretion, but you'll have fulfilled your 14 days either way. Enjoy your new job! (And make sure you have written copies of your 2 week notice just in case).
Most people get a paid holiday off and when holidays are on the weekend they get a working day off. For instance, my husband has Friday off this week for Xmas Eve and Monday for Xmas.
Load More Replies...Generally, if it is written as two weeks, then it is two weeks, holidays and stuff shouldn't matter unless it is written as 10 work days. Though laws do depend on country, so getting some official legal advice from lawyer would be best course of action. But I am pretty sure his old employer is just trying to use scare tactics on him to bully him into delaying. And yeah, one of my coworkers actually walked into getting with supervisors in company of his lawyer so they couldn't pull off any tricks like that. :-D Because they were trying to get him to sign new contract he didn't agree to.
In Australia, a contract will state length of notice, but you can actually quit with a minutes notice if you need to. It just means that you won't get paid for the remaining time that you weren't there. Nothing more. No-one is going to spend 2 - 4 months worth of your wages to get you to work an extra couple of weeks.
Like others have said a contract that says 2 weeks notice is 2 weeks. Not 12 calendar days. Otherwise it would be listed as such. Yes follow up with an email stating what day is your last day. And hold firm to that.. If she continues to make the job a hostile work environment report it to HR and also followup with an email and make it your last day. Don't let someone bully or harass you or make you feel guilty. You are following your contract. congrats on the new job. If you have to end the 2 weeks early due to this boss take a 2 week rest and relaxation. Maybe treat yourself to a spa day. You deserve it.
Gee, I could never imagine why they're having a hard time staying fully staffed. Seriously though, people don't quit jobs, they quit shìtty managers. And yeah, two weeks is 14 calendar days and is generally seen as a nicety not an overt legal obligation. A court would laugh her out of the place. They'd possibly be nicer about it and apologize afterwards,though. It is Canada, afterall. If she spoke to me like that it would be the last thing I ever heard from her because I'd immediately leave. Go ahead and sue me, you're about to be terribly disappointed.
Everyone has already provided the proper answer: two weeks' notice is only a courtesy, and in no way a legal obligation. Your boss is upset about having to fulfill actually fulfill some of the tough duties that are squarely hers by virtue of her position and pay, and instead attemting to push them on you. Neverthess let's imagine for the moment that she actually did have some sort of legal standing to back her up. If they are so short-staffed and overworked that she's trying to strongarm you into staying a couple weeks longer, do you think they'd add to that burden, and possibly all sorts of additional legal costs--by pursuing legal action against you over a couple weeks of work? It's a catch 22, the very reasons she is attempting to extort unjust work out of you would also prevent them from pursuing legal action, even if they had any such options, which they don't. Never go back. THREATS immediately void any right to courtesy notice such as you offered.
First off you need to contact HR at your company's headquarters and arrange an immediate 'sit-down' with the head of that dept. in order to verify what is specifically required in this situation, and while there file a complaint against your boss for 'bullying' you, by telling you that you needed to give at least four to eight weeks of notice and that the Company could pursue legal matters if you left before your "contract" was up. Be sure to put this in writing and leave it with HR whether they will accept it or not; also if they will not accept it E-mail them and also forward a copy via standard mail, certified, to ensure it is understood your conversation was serious as to the nature of your concerns, and also, if there any abusive behavior from anyone you will walk out then and there.
They will just have to bite the bullet. If it says 2 weeks in your contract and does not spell out that it's has to be "business" days or state that you must give longer notice due to peak periods, then tell them to "kick rocks". Really odd how that only works in the employer's favor seeing as how if they want to fire you, they do NOT give you 2 weeks notice? ( or longer if job market is tough so you can find other employment) 🤔
The person's contract says two weeks. So, two weeks (not 10 business days) it is. If they had been able to offer a long period of notice I suspect they would have done so, but they can't. If the person really doesn't want to burn their bridges with this company, they might need to have a quiet word with HR and let them know what's been happening, and the threats the boss has made.
I'm in Canada, there is no way they can force you to stay longer. It's a courtesy, and your boss is delusional. You can leave earlier if you choose. Contrary to popular belief, the bridge is burnt. Move on to your new job.
Also In Canada, unless stated explicitly in the contract, giving notice is not required and is more a courtesy thing.
Employers do not give staff 2 weeks notice before firing, so they should get NOTHING. Claim harrassment and threaten to sue.
Someone who is retiring could feasibly give 6 months notice where their contract requires only 1 month - using this boss's arguments all subsequent retirees would have to give the same notice. Personally, I take the view that it is nice if people give as much notice as possible, as there is less chance their soon-to-be-ex colleagues will be stuck covering their role for ages, but there is always a possibility that a conditional offer may be pulled at the last minute and the a good chance new employer will often want an employee to start as soon as possible, so often minimal notice is the only appropriate course of action.
I can't imagine you would be legally obligated to work in an environment where you are being harassed and threatened. Document the abuse, email her boss/superior about it immediately, and if they cannot or will not find a space for you to work in where you will not be subject to harassment from this person, leave immediately. If she is the highest up in the company, leave immediately. Either way, put it in writing through email (and CC your own personal email address for proof) that you had given your 2 weeks notice as required by the terms of your employment but due to the hostile work environment and continuing harassment, will be leaving effective immediately.
Because she's supposed to start the new job before 10 business days. If she put her notice in last Friday (the 16th) her last day would be Dec 30. Provided they get 3 holiday days for Xmas Eve Xmas day and boxing day that's three days short of 10 working days (she stated the don't work weekends.) If they take the entire time between Xmas and NYD that's 5 days short.
Load More Replies...From Canada here. Two weeks' notice means two work weeks, not more, like fourteen days of work.
Personally, I'd just give the old middle finger and walk out on the spot. Probably financial suicide, but hey
I volunteer for a non-profit and we had just one paid employee (cook) who decided to give her 2 week's notice right before Christmas. Considering our holiday schedule, this was 6 working days. What that meant for me was sleepless nights and a ruined holiday season trying to find someone. We scrambled to get volunteers to do the job for about a month. There are 2 sides to every story.
Any time you are so dependent on one employee, your business is vulnerable. She could have gotten run over by a truck on the way to work. A well run business has a contingency plan for the loss of any key employee. Don’t blame her for your poor planning!
Load More Replies...why do people ask these kind of questions on reddit, as opposed to a lawyer specializing in labor law?
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