Anybody who has been fired can tell you how stressful it is. From having to find a new job to finding a way to get by until you get a new job, being terminated is one of the most stressful adult experiences people have.
Companies often have the same experience, especially local businesses. Having to fill a position, usually in a job nobody actually wants, is just as stressful. Employers struggle to fill up the schedule with those missing hours, which puts a strain on the rest of the team.
This stress on the employer is why workplace readiness courses in high school always remind students to put in a two-week notice, allowing the company time to promote the position and fill it before your departure. But often, companies don’t give the same courtesy to those vacating the position.
Companies often won’t tell an employee they are fired until after they have arrived and even worked a full shift. Employers send the employee away at the end of the day, broken and unemployed. After getting over the fact they lost their job, these terminated employees have to come to terms with a new reality. They have no income. Bills still have to be paid, repairs handled and promises kept.
But many companies don’t see the humanistic outlook. They are focused on their bottom line.
Unknowingly, some employees sign their right to notice away when they get hired.
Some companies even have employment-at-will clauses in the employee handbook. This clause allows companies to fire anybody, for any reason, without notice. Employers often have the suspended employee leave immediately to prevent retaliation or demoralization among the remaining staff.
While some companies offer severance pay in the event of firing, this is often to save face. You wouldn’t want a disgruntled employee blasting your bad business practices on Facebook. But this usually only goes to union employees or those in a highly specialized position where they can negotiate that type of deal.
Sure, one could say that employees should still provide a two-week notice to ensure that bridges aren’t burned and references don’t have any bad blood. On the other hand, there are even arguments that employees should stop providing notice, citing that you could prevent hostility with the employer.
A two-week notice of termination could actually prove beneficial for the company. An employer might see an uptick in performance in the person showing that they actually want the job. It will also demonstrate to other employees that you are willing to work with them and not around them.
Two-week notices are a form of professionalism in the U.S. As an employee, you prove to the employers that you are a hard worker and don’t want to put the company in a bind. Companies should follow suit and give the employee a reason to provide the company with good reviews on Indeed.
Professionalism is essential in any workspace, and ensuring that both parties leave in good standing is important. You never know. You might be looking at that person again for that same position. If for nothing else, companies should provide notice because, especially in this economy, that job could be the only thing keeping that employee going.
