When to notify your employer you are going to leave?

In the USA, two weeks. Don't give earlier notice than two weeks unless you have a close, long-term relationship with your boss, and you're absolutely sure that won't create a problem.

For example, by policy, some companies would require your boss to advise HR and terminate your network/building access as soon as you give notice. In that case, your early notice either leaves your boss violating policy, or leaves you unemployed with two weeks pay in lieu of notice (of them terminating you). If in doubt, and if you have that close relationship, you may want to discuss your departure on a general and hypothetical basis first before discussing specifics.

Still try to avoid surprising your boss, as much as you can. For example, you could try to take on more maintenance and documentation work, and fewer new projects. A good manager may get the hint, and will appreciate the consideration in retrospect even if not. There's also a small but non-zero chance that a bad manager would turn this into a reason to fire you, so judge the tradeoff against that long-term relationship carefully.

My own personal policy back in the day when I was single, debt-free, and working hourly wage jobs was that when they notice I'm gone they've had all the notice they were gonna get.

Back then, life was too short to spend it somewhere boring. There were too many places to see, things to do, etc. All my employers had my home address at my parent's house for anything they needed to send so if I had a new opportunity come up that sounded better than my current situation I loaded my stuff into my duffle bag, checked out of the motel or folded the tent (whichever I was using at the time) and hit the road. In a four year period I worked from Arkansas to Oregon, south Texas to Montana for more than a dozen companies. Sometimes I was there for months, other times just long enough to find out the guy who hired me lied about the pay rate or other terms of employment. A couple of the companies never paid me for the work I did though I worked in one case for four weeks, dawn to dark-thirty, 7 days a week. The industry was in collapse mode at the time so it was easy for me to write it off and move on.

For a long time I never held any job longer than 3 years. I'd get an itch and start looking around. Then I found myself in the position where I had so much varied experience that friends encouraged me to start consulting. Been doing that for 20 years. Not a bad gig.

Nowadays I'm tied to real estate, taxes, debts, the finest spouse anyone could ever ask for and some great children. It all worked out okay for me.

Companies come and go. Enjoy life while you are young. If that voice in your head tells you to move on, pack up and hit the road. It'll all work out in the end.

If in USA, most states have "at will" employment which means you can leave anytime. But the professional courtesy is 2 weeks notice. If you are not in USA, check your local country rules. I for example worked in HongKong for a while and we had a min. 3 month notice period on both sides. I have heard most of Asia and even Europe may be similar.

I would however advise you to think about yourself first without feeling bad for the employer. Be fair though. If you have a good relationship with your Boss and team and they depend on you for some valuable work, 2 weeks is absolute minimum so that they can work on a transition plan. If your relationship with your boss/team is really really good and if your boss counters asking for say more time, feel free to negotiate that. I did that for my last job when I quit and my boss wanted me to stay for at least a month and I obliged because I was ok with that since I loved my team.

If your relationship with your boss/team is not good or if you are not that valuable to them anyway (to be blunt), be prepared to be let go immediately on notice with extra pay. Companies do it for their own peace of mind and don't take offense with that but be ready for it.

Either way, do what is best for YOU, not for anyone else but try not to burn any bridges for all the hard work you have done so far with this company. People underestimate the power of past employers connection/networks sometimes. Yes, leave when you need to but always try to do it on good terms. Good luck!!

If you are in the United States, particularly CA, just don’t give more than 2 weeks’ notice. You aren’t required to give any notice but it’s professional courtesy to give this much notice.

Make sure that your manager is willing to give you a good reference for your future gigs. If you suspect that that will not be the case, then just use the 2 weeks notice to tie up loose ends personally and getting some downtime before your next gig. The courtesy you extend to your boss is Not entirely free - your boss is also expected to extend professional courtesy by giving you a good reference, assuming you are not leaving because of performance issues or for cause.

Were you hired with any clause that determines notice on either side? Often tech hires have a mutuality clause. Were you hired and paid on a monthly basis? This may affect things, but you might only have the statutory 2 weeks? Others are right, once notice is given people are often walked out and all login credentials cancelled. What has happened to others like you at this company in the past - if you know.

I normally give notice as early as possible, but take note I'm in Asia (Malaysia). If they want to negotiate it, this gives them room to. I've had a 25% salary increase and substantial increase to benefits, but it was done in a dodgy/deceptive manner, so I quit anyway.

People are reciprocative. If you treat your bosses as just another thing, they'll do the same with you. I'd rather be the better person and not live with the guilt, and have to justify that they would do the same to me.

Normally, even with 3 months notice, they treat me with respect and as a full employee, and there's usually a little farewell party on the last day (which often is a Saturday). I'd offer to fully train a replacement (but they never find one) and a lot of the remaining time is spent documenting everything to make the transition easier. But again this is for smaller companies, and not in the US.

It depends almost entirely on seniority and your relationship to the company. I found that for most IC jobs, once you give your two week notice you immediately lose a lot of the relational power that you previously enjoyed. There is no incentive to take on new projects, so you quickly find yourself out of things to do. Depending on how the company handles your departure, two weeks is either nowhere near enough time or way more than necessary. As you increase in seniority, there are more people who rely on you to get your job done. Therefore the task of finding a replacement and training them is larger, and so more lead time is appreciated. For manager level and above, a month would be ideal if you can swing it. For executive roles, you should ideally be letting your fellow executives or the board of directors know about your departure multiple months in advance.

How did your employer treat other employees that gave their notice? I would let that guide your actions.

Did they march them out with security and cut off their network access?

Did they let them finish out their 2 weeks notice helping wrap things up followed be a going away party at the end?

I would only give the typical notice, 2 weeks here.

I've given more notice to try to be a team player and it gets awkward being the 'short timer' for more than a couple weeks.

Definitely agree to get all your stuff out of the office before giving your notice, just in case.

Don't feel like you should give them more notice, even if you're friends with them, two weeks notice is what they are expecting.

On a side note I'd try to have a new job lined up even if you negotiate a start date a month or two out for some time off. Easier to find a job when you have one is the rule.

Good luck leaving and starting your new adventure.

Rule one: wait until you have your next job.

Why are you leaving? If you are going to go to school, then you might want to come back later, I would start dropping hints.

Do you need a sabbatical? Some places can deal with that.

Since they do not want to loss you, by HINTING, not telling you might be able to work something out.

If you are retiring, then I would tell them now. They will appreciate being able to bring on a new person and having you train them.

If you are going to a competitor, expect to be bum rushed out the door. Do you want to be able to come back? Or do you despise these people? In general it is never good to burn bridges.

The usual employment notice period is the pay period. One employer had a budget cut and let me know three months ahead of time. Two others took my access card and provided severance. When I changed jobs, I let my current employer know the situation and they generally held on to me for enough time for me to wrap things up. In a number of cases I helped out my previous employer after starting with my new employer. When it comes time to find a new job, it helps to happy references from previous employers.

Two weeks notice, be prepared for the day you give notice to be your last day. Make sure you’ve taken all of your PTO if they’re not required to pay it out when you leave as cash.

Depends on your relationship with your employer.

My current employer, I'd tell them immediately, and even that I was interviewing.... but I have a great relationship with them and it's a small organization.

If it was a place I DID NOT have a great relationship with I'd give them two weeks notice, BUT also be prepared to be walked out right then and there when I told them (this was actually policy at some places I've worked).

My state is at-will. My company does not permit references to be given. The company will not give you notice if they are terminating you.

When I leave, I'm packing all my stuff and giving my notice on the day I plan to leave. If the company is not loyal to its employees, why should I be loyal to them.

Seems you already have the basic pros and cons. To add here, I have seen a colleague who decided to break the news in advance because of good personal and working relations with the employer, and offer to help in the meantime.

I would tell him two weeks before your planned departure.

It depends also where you live. In some countries, for example Norway, employment contracts can have 2-3 months notice period even for normal employees.

two weeks at minimum if you want to leave in good standing

What is this "notice?" Either leave or don't leave.

I would only consider this if I were retiring from a company which I had an outstanding relationship with management and fellow employees.

The 1950s two weeks is a thing of the past and no longer viable or practical.

A fair number of employers will not even want you to stay through the end of the day - you are no longer to be trusted. Likewise when they can employees, whether for cause or 'cost savings.'

By staying, you also open yourself up to future accusations of sabotage, theft of IP, etc

I'd give 48 hours at most.