You’re reading your employee handbook at work when you see an interesting clause. It says that you are required to give two weeks’ notice before you leave your position. You cannot simply quit any time that you want. You need to give notice 10 working days before your final day.
The employee handbook is relatively new, so this rule did not exist when you took the job. Do you now have to follow it just because your boss decided to update their handbook?
Notice is not required for at-will employees
Did you sign an employment contract when you took the job? If so, it may have had a similar stipulation about giving notice before quitting. Once you sign that contract, you are obligated to adhere to it to the best of your abilities. If you already agreed to provide advance notice, you do have to do so. Your employer could take legal action if you don’t, accusing you of violating your employment contract.
That said, you probably don’t have an employment contract at all. Most workers don’t, and they are just at-will employees.
The way that at-will employment is defined states that both the employer and the employee can terminate the relationship at any time. This means you aren’t required to give notice. Even though it’s in the company handbook, you don’t have to follow those regulations.
Issues like this can sometimes cause complex employment disputes. For instance, your employer may try to illegally retaliate against you by cutting pay for hours you’ve already worked. This is an example of wage theft. If you find yourself in this position, or facing other types of retaliation or harassment, be sure you know what legal options you have.