Quitting before two weeks notice is up

Between a new boss, new co-workers, and new office culture, your first few weeks at a job should be an exciting period in your career. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Two weeks in, and a voice inside your head is shouting, “I hate my new job!” And that's when you have to learn how to quit a job you just started—even when the ink on your contract is still drying.

Although the average employment tenure for most workers is 4.2 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are plenty of logical reasons to leave sooner. For instance, maybe you were a victim of a bait-and-switch scheme—a hiring practice wherein you were hired for a job but actually get assigned an entirely different role—or you're answering to a toxic boss.

Another valid reason to consider quitting a new job—even if everything is sailing smoothly—would be if you've received a better job offer from another employer.

Regardless of why you're halfway out the door, there are potential repercussions to making a quick exit. You certainly don't want to burn bridges, and quitting too soon can have an impact in some big ways:

• Getting blacklisted. The company and manager may refuse to work with you in the future.
• Damaging your reputation in the industry. Word gets around, especially if you're in a niche industry. If that happens, future hiring managers might negatively perceive you as a job hopper, which can make your next job search more difficult.
• Aggravating your co-workers. Exiting abruptly could force your co-workers to pick up the work you leave behind, which can build resentment among people you might cross paths with in the future.
• Making financial sacrifices. Obviously, your eligibility for unemployment insurance (if it even kicked in yet) may be at risk if you voluntarily quit your job. Additionally, if you received a sign-on bonus or reimbursement for relocation expenses but decide to leave within the first six months to a year, you might need to forfeit the cash.

On the other hand, there are benefits to quitting an ill-fitting job. In addition to regaining your mental health, you're less likely to repeat this mistake, meaning your next job search will place the proper amount of focus on cultural fit.

Only you can decide whether to stay or leave, but if you're already seriously contemplating quitting, you're likely halfway there—the situation has to be pretty extreme to get you to this point. Should you choose to pack up, this is how to quit a job you just started:

• Resign in person. While uncomfortable, you should break the news to your boss face to face so that you're perceived as being professional. Then ask how she'd like you to notify the rest of the team. Don't tell your co-workers you're quitting until you speak with your boss.
• Keep a positive tone. You don't need to explain why you're quitting. Tell your boss that you thought long and hard, and it wasn't an easy decision to make. If your manager presses you for an explanation, simply say that you feel leaving is the best decision for both you and the company.
• Draft a letter of resignation. Many employers require paper documentation for resignations. To save your boss time, type a resignation letter yourself and present it to your manager.
• Offer at least two weeks' notice. Even though you've only been with the company for a short period of time, giving two weeks' notice is appropriate. (Some companies even have a set policy for how many weeks' notice is required.) But if you have the flexibility, you could offer to stay for three or four weeks, if your manager prefers it. Nonetheless, be prepared for a negative response—you may be required to leave immediately, depending on the company and industry.
• Don't mentally check out. Once you've announced that you're leaving, you still need to put 100% of your time and effort into the job. Put simply: Don't coast. Making an effort during your last two weeks on the job can only help your reputation in this delicate situation.

Find a Better Fit

Whether you leave a job suddenly or after a few years, there's a certain sinking feeling that strikes when you know for sure, "This job is not for me." But it happens—and it's not the end of the world that you need to know how to quit a job you just started. Want help making better career decisions and finding better jobs? Monster can help with free info on workplace trends, career advice, and job search tips delivered straight to your inbox so you can feel confident that you're headed in the right direction.

The customary procedure when you decide to quit a professional job is to give your boss two weeks' notice of your departure. This way, the employer has time to begin looking for a new hire to replace you and ideally provides time for you to help train that new hire as well. But even if you provide two weeks' notice as a courtesy to your company, the boss could ask you to leave immediately.

The Law

There are no federal or state laws requiring employees to provide their boss with two weeks’ notice when quitting. Most states have adopted something called the at-will doctrine. This doctrine gives an employer the right to terminate an employee at any time, without cause or any reason. It also gives employees the right to leave their employment at any time without a reason.

There are exceptions to this doctrine. For example, employers aren't allowed to fire employees based on race, gender, age and numerous other factors. However, the at-will doctrine gives both employees and employers a lot of freedom in terms of firing and quitting.

Company Policy

While it's perfectly legal for an employee to quit without reason and not provide two weeks' notice, some employers may have company policies requiring their employees to give two weeks’ notice. There isn't a lot an employer can do, however, if the employee ignores this policy. Many employers, when they're permitted under state law, penalize employees for failing to provide two weeks' notice. An employer might not pay out accrued vacation time, for example, or other benefits that have accrued.

Some employers prefer the carrot approach as opposed to the stick. They might offer severance pay or other benefits to employees who comply with the two weeks' notice policy.

Employment Contracts 

Contracts are a bit more binding than company policy and can be an exception to at-will firing and quitting. If the terms of your contract require two weeks’ notice, you'll have a binding legal obligation to give the notice. Sometimes, the employer and employee may mutually agree to modify or ignore any notice requirements. States have different laws when it comes to employment contracts, so you may need to consult an attorney who specializes in employment law if you decide to break your contract.

Hit the Road Now

Many employers, however, will ask you to leave immediately when you give them two weeks' notice, and this is perfectly legal as well. The upside is this may make the employee eligible for unemployment when they wouldn't have been otherwise. This is more common in industries where companies are worried about competitors. For example, a salesperson might take all of their contacts to a new company if given time to copy those into a personal file.

If you work in an industry rife with competition, you likely already know that you could be asked to leave immediately upon giving notice. If you're not sure, look at the company's history, talk to employees who have been with the company longer and transfer any information you want to keep (and is legal to keep!) before giving notice.

What happens if I don't give 2 weeks notice?

Do you have to wait 2 weeks before quitting?