At-Will Contracts & Extended Notice Periods. Do you state anywhere that notice before quitting is required for any reason? Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? and you will want to take every step possible to document that this was a resignation rather than a termination. The two weeks of notice gives them time to start interviewing replacements, gather details on any ongoing projects, and transition work over to other employees temporarily. Note. "Can Employers Require Workers to Give Notice Before They Quit?" Its 4:30 on a Friday afternoon and one of your employees knocks on your door asking to come in. For that reason, they may hold back their intentions, altogether. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRMs permission. If you can get ahead of potential issues, it can set you and the resigning employee up for a smooth transition out. This doctrine gives an employer the right to terminate an employee at any time, without cause or any reason. Having an employee turn in their resignation letter is going to happen from time to time. nless you have a policy which asks the employee to give a specific amount of notice, or a contract requiring a specific amount of notice, you are under no legal obligation to retain the employee through the resignation date. And if so, will it mean she can collect unemployment insurance even though she quit? Now what do you do? paying for the entire notice period can sometimes result in the employees eligibility for unemployment benefits. She loves spending her time exploring the outdoors, playing with her nieces and nephews, and cooking. In most cases, it's entirely up to the employer to determine whether they want the person who is resigning to complete their final two weeks or whether they'd prefer to let them go right away. The policy should state that employment is at will and that workers are free to resign with or without notice, but if they do give two weeks of notice, they will receive their accrued but unused vacation time (or other incentive).