30 day notice?

js142430, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2006

Do you have an employment contract? I know that here in Ohio we're an at-will state which means that you can leave with no notice if you don't have a contract. It also means you can be fired for no reason and with no advance notice either. If you didn't sign an employment contract, I don't see how they can strong-arm you into staying. I think more than anything, the amount of notice you give is a courtesy, unless you have a contract.

Bird2 · Apr 14, 2006

The worst that can happen is they will put you on a do not rehire list. Basically you got do what you got to do. I would not risk not getting the new job.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Apr 15, 2006

4 weeks is appropriate and normally policy for managers.

But unless you signed a binding contract, there's not much they can do. And even if you did, what exactly are they going to sue to get from you? Really, it's not worth the price of pursuing, either way.

Tell them you have given notice, and if they don't agree with the notice they have, you'll be more than happy to take a vacation between jobs . . .

(But, if the point keeps coming up, you make it a poing to say that, if you serve out your notice as given, and they accept that service, you consider that the notice has been acceptably honored, by both parties.)

And then tell them the subject is not open to further discussion.

~faith,

Timothy.

luvmy2angels · Apr 15, 2006

I agree, if no contract is invloved i would be OUT OF THERE!!! Good Luck!!

mtnmom · Apr 15, 2006

In Dec of last year I had to resign from a FT staff nurse position due to some extenuating personal circumstances. I, too work in at "at will" state.

I was strong-armed into a one-month notice (originally all I gave was 2 wks) by the threat of witholding all my pay for accrued PTO and making me a "no rehire"

I REALLY needed the PTO money - it was substantial - and not wanting to burn a bridge, I sucked it up and completed the notice.

Now i have inquired about a prn occasional position - I know that there are staffing needs due to a maternity leave and a couple of resignations. The facility is very close to me and I could do some prn no problem. i cant even get anyone in HR or the former mgr to call me back or acknowledge my application! This after getting a glowing performance review....so go figure.

BTW, I checked with a family member who is an attorney while all this was going on and was told it is perfectly legal. In other words, "at will"=no rights for the worker.

good luck with your situation and the new job.

oneLoneNurse · Apr 15, 2006

I was faced with similiar circumstances last fall. New employer was offering me vacation and a bonus if I gave two weeks notice instead of four weeks notice. My employer told me if I did not give them four weeks I would not receive any PTO(accumulated = 5 weeks pay).

I rewrote my resignation letter giving them the four weeks instead of two. The new job did not plan out, after 8 weeks employment I was out of a job, though I did receive 5 weeks extra pay from the new employer to get rid of me. The old employer a major university hospital system hired me back within a week of my resignation at the new company.

My hard learned advice: don't burn your bridges at the old employer give them the four weeks they are requesting.

I love my present job though don't see myself doing it forever.

Ok here is the story,,
I was hired as a NM of a nursing home and then in OCtober of 2005 I put in a letter to step down to charge nurse...WELL..they would not let me go to that position until they found someone to replace me SO i here it is April 2006 and I am still in the NM position. I have found another position and will be moving to it. BUT >>>>>it starts May 8th and I just gave my notice yesterday so I gave my present employer a 3 week and 1 day notice...they have three weeks until I leave and now they are telling me I need to give 4 weeks...I knew this before hand but my hands were tied and my current DON just now got back to the hospital regarding a reference so NOT MY FAULT>>>but i cannot give them 4 weeks only 3 weeks... is this wrong? now they are saying I am required to give 4 weeks? where does it say this? is this a law if you are in management? or is it courtesy? I feel that I have given them enough all ready and if i give them 4 weeks i will miss the May orientation at the hospital and will have to wait till June 12 which is too long...please let me know my rights....it does not say anything in the policy book about this...THanks

JKDON · Apr 19, 2006

I agree with One Lone Nurse. Don't burn bridges. Your reputation is on the line, and if you choose to become an instructor, get offered a big promotion or position, it could come back to haunt you.

I can't imagine any nurse, with the shortage being what it is, not giving 30 days notice. The patients deserve our professionalism. This is not factory work. Most professionals should give 30 days at least.

Having said that you gave your notice back in Dec 05, I think you said. So if you have the other job already, and your new employer can't wait, you aren't going to lose anything unless you ever want to go back, or you use them as a reference. I would also put you on a do not rehire list if you did not give notice. As an employer I have had to wait for people and even if they offer to stiff their previous boss on the notice, my next question is "so when you decide to quit here, does that mean you will do that to me?" That usually makes them work out their notice. I want to remind them that as of now you are rehireable and in good standing. If you don't work your notice, you would not be leaving your previous job in good standing and that would change the way I feel about hiring you.

For some reason nurses think that they are in such high demand they can get away with anything. I would not think much of an employer who would not let you work out your notice. Do the right thing. You may need to go back to that place sometime.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Apr 19, 2006

A 30 day notice is an expectation in most salary/management positions. If you did not give a written notice with an end time beack in October that does not count. If they have a written policy that requires a nurse in your current position to give 30 day's notice and you don't than you do lose out on any vacation owed you most likely.

It really comes down to their written policy so that is what you need to look at. I am a never burn bridges kind of person, but you may be more of a risk taker. Do what feels right.

If your new employer cannot respect the need to give proper notice as required by your current employer then that would certainly give me pause as to their paractices.

Good luck with your decision.

tsh0852 · Apr 21, 2006

Our DON just resigned with a 3-week notice and still taking time off to do things to get ready for her new job.