Does anyone have advice on how to word a resignation when you have a 60-day contract?

Anonymous

August 5,2023 at 3:28AM UTC

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Does anyone have advice on how to word a resignation when you have a 60-day contract? In my industry, you need to give at least a 60-day notice which is unrealistic because a new job won't wait & hold a job for full 60 days, I imagine. I'm in the process of applying for a new job and want the right wording to effectively convey I have accepted a new position while giving a more appropriate notice. I don't want to have to bring in an employment attorney either. Thanks for any positive workable ideas!

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Jillian KnappAugust 5,2023 at 3:55AM UTC
This situation seems vicarious. Why not consult with an attorney now? Consultations aren’t usually crazy in price and it may save you later on.
AnonymousAugust 5,2023 at 12:50PM UTC
There's a difference in customary best practices in your industry versus what you are legally required to do. Review your contract so that you understand the difference. If you are not legally obligated to provide the full 60 day notice, which I highly doubt, you should provide as much notice as you can and extend your apologies if it's less than 60 days. The ramification may be that they may not be willing to give you a good reference. But only a petty organization would do that. If you don't plan to go back, move forward and leave it behind you. Note that your lack of notice does not give them the right not to pay your final hours worked.
Susan Heidi WolmanAugust 5,2023 at 1:42PM UTC
Do you have any vacation, sick or personal days? Subtract those from the work days in the two months you are giving notice. Any holidays too.
60 days is 40 work days. If you have 10 vacation days, plus 8 sick plus 5 personal days, that brings you to 23 days which means you can start a new job in three weeks which is a reasonable amount of time for a new employer to wait.
AnonymousAugust 6,2023 at 12:40PM UTC
Are you changing industries? If not, it’s pretty hypocritical for the standard to be to give 60 days notice but have new jobs expect you to start sooner.
What would the consequences be for not giving that kind of notice?
Betsy Ganim CowetteAugust 6,2023 at 12:47PM UTC
Check the laws in your state. Most states are “at will” yours or your employers, which would be in direct conflict of any contract or precedent in your industry. An employment attorney can give you advice. In that case, whatever notice is reasonable for you and your new employer will have to do, usually 2-3 weeks. Good luck!
AnonymousAugust 6,2023 at 1:59PM UTC
A silly question to start: If your industry commonly requires a 60-day notice and you are not changing industries, why would another job not realize and grant you the 60 days before you start?
First, read your contract carefully. Check the consequences of an early "out" of your position. They should have to pay you for any time worked (state laws will stipulate that) but may not be inclined to go any further than that (i.e., unused PTO). If the contract is for a deliverable, they may want to hold you to provide that and can sue you if it is incomplete (but this is a legal issue and should be discussed with an attorney).
If you don't want to involve an attorney, you may want to run it by someone at your state's Department of Labor to determine what can hold up in court based on state laws and how the contract is worded. They may tell you you can get by with a 2-week notice if you are in an at-will state.
AnonymousAugust 7,2023 at 1:48AM UTC
Thanks for your reply & legal advice regarding contract verbage. No consequences are laid out at all. Definitely changing industries and never getting locked into such a contract again!
AnonymousAugust 7,2023 at 3:09PM UTC
Good for you for the lessons learned. Since there are no consequences, check for generalized "breach of contract" verbiage. Another silly question: Does the 60 days apply to them if they also let you go? Barring any "fine print" in the contract, I think you would be ok with giving them two weeks. However, I am not an attorney and have never seen your agreement, so this is just an "armchair opinion."
AnonymousAugust 6,2023 at 6:09PM UTC
I quit my job for a better opportunity and had a 30 day notice. I explained I could only give two weeks tops as I had another opportunity and asked for their consideration. I am in an at will state and honestly I dont know they can hold you to it, because they didn’t give people 30 days notice when they were being let go . according to our HR policies I was entitled to and received my health befits until the end of the month and all accrued vacation time .
they were not happy but virtually everyone who left had done The same thing and they didn’t give everyone a hard time. once i mentioned that’s and asked for the same courtesy it was a non issue.
best decision I ever made .
AnonymousAugust 7,2023 at 3:43PM UTC
Speak truth to power. Nothing requires you to be indebted to a job when a new one comes along unless you are in a government position. Write what you said and offer to be available for questions during the second 2 week period should they want your support after you leave. Congrats!
AnonymousAugust 8,2023 at 9:33PM UTC
Thank you so much - very helpful!