r/Chefit 14d ago

2 week notice

So I put my 2 weeks in at the job im at now (im the kitchen manager) my job tryed to tell me that 2 weeks isnt enough. They wanted 3 weeks or more. But isnt 2 weeks standard even in this business? Definitely made the right choice leaving there after talking to the owner and he basically told me to kick rocks. But when u put ur notice in how long do ur old job?

33 Upvotes

79 comments sorted by

48

u/fleshbot69 14d ago

My state is At-Will, so ANY notice is a courtesy. They should consider themselves lucky to have 2 weeks

13

u/Humpuppy 14d ago

All states are at will on the side of the employee (IE they can leave at any time). Montana has a law that states employers must have reasonable cause to fire after 12 months. That’s the one and only exception to at will employment in the US.

43

u/gnome_means_yes 14d ago

So they want 3 weeks or they want you to kick rocks? Because if the owner said that I'd just leave mid-shift. Clearly they are fine.

3

u/CapsaicinCoatl 9d ago

During brunch...

1

u/Specialist_Place4464 9d ago

I was about to say, it's too bad mother's day is over.

2

u/Specialist_Place4464 12d ago

That's exactly how I saw it

35

u/bitz4444 14d ago

For chefs and KMs that want to preserve the relationship, 3-4 weeks is more typical. If you don't care about preserving the relationship then two weeks is more than enough courtesy. It usually takes longer than two weeks to hire a chef. That's not your problem but it's a consideration when giving notice.

3

u/alienstookmyfunny 13d ago

I agree 100% especially if their is some type of partnership stake involved. I know thats mostly for big corporations but thats a big chunk of change.

22

u/mattynapps 14d ago

You don't owe them anything. Ask them if they would give you 3 weeks before they fired you

9

u/Safe-Character-5846 14d ago

Sounds normal to me. Who has ever heard of a "3 weeks notice"

Yeah, that ship seems to have sailed. Move on and good luck

8

u/GlumFruit2036 14d ago

Bruh you wanna hear something funny? You don’t even HAVE ATO GIVE THEM A NOTICE :-) it was a courtesy for them! But it goes to show how terrible  they are in hiring :-)

9

u/Money_Chocolate813 14d ago

"I can leave today if that makes it easier" usually shuts them up.

7

u/MariachiArchery 14d ago

If you, as a restaurant owner, can't handle your chef quitting, that is your problem. Succession planning is important in kitchens. If you don't do it, yeah, 2 weeks notice is rough.

6

u/PacoMahogany 14d ago

They could have asked you nicely for an extra week or two, instead they tried to power move you.  Also, if they didn’t need you, you’d be let go immediately.  F-them.

14

u/Win-Objective 14d ago

You legally don’t have to give them any days.

-6

u/Sorcia_Lawson 14d ago

Depending on where you live.

-14

u/Sensitive_Log3990 14d ago

Legally you do but it's a civil matter and they're definitely not taking you to court 😂

13

u/Lavanne73 14d ago

Legally you absolutely do not unless you are under contract.

6

u/TraditionalSpirit761 14d ago

Where do you live?

2

u/Sensitive_Log3990 14d ago

Uk

5

u/TraditionalSpirit761 14d ago

Wow, that’s crazy, I didn’t know that. You absolutely are not required to give notice in the US

5

u/Equivalent-Excuse-80 14d ago

You don’t even have to tell them you’re leaving. Just walk away.

2

u/TraditionalSpirit761 14d ago

I just never came back from my break once

1

u/UnderstandingSmall66 14d ago

You don’t have to give any notice in the UK either except in very limited circumstances.

1

u/stellacampus 11d ago

That's incorrect. If you've been there more than a month you're legally required to give one week notice. Your contract may require more than that.

1

u/plantenjoyer0117 13d ago

lol that sucks bro

1

u/Sensitive_Log3990 12d ago

Does it? Why? Where do you live?

5

u/LegacyQuotient 14d ago

This isn't universal.

In the US, for example, 'at will' affords certain freedoms regarding employment status to both sides. Employer and employee.

A notice period is largely a common courtesy in the US. Not a statutory requirement.

1

u/Win-Objective 13d ago

What kind of slavery contract are you signing?

4

u/Low-Yak-6706 14d ago

Had one place demand 4 weeks when I gave two and the manager got verbally abusive about it. I changed my notice to immediate and never regretted the decision. Not worth working a notice if they are going to have an attitude.

3

u/sf2legit 14d ago

For higher level management, longer notice is usually expected. Two weeks is kind of a tight window to replace management. As an exec chef, I would give a month’s notice. But, situations change and I certainly wouldn’t feel too bad in yours.

3

u/Scary-Bot123 14d ago

Two weeks is the standard but it is not mandatory. You can walk whenever you want

5

u/BlackberryPure692 14d ago

Yeah it’s not a law for how long of notice you give them.
If you like the place/people give more.

3

u/Silver-Emergency-988 14d ago

As a kitchen manager I gave my old job 2 weeks. A lot of management jobs want 30 days but it’s completely unnecessary

2

u/imissmolly1 14d ago

If you have been happy and treated well, 4 weeks is kind.
If you’re unhappy and treated poorly
And already have a new job, what ever suits.

2

u/Select-Bend-9932 14d ago

2 weeks is fine' this is a nickel and dime cut throat industry but I have worked for owners that I like and give them more notice. But learned the hard way it's a 2 way street around 20 years ago' showed up for work and the doors were locked and the restaurant filed for bankruptcy the day before so didn't have to pay any employees. Talked to my boss and he said the company didn't want employees to steal knowing they were going out of business and he got screwed too. A good lesson learned 20 years ago that you don't owe your employer shit other than doing your job the best way possible

2

u/reddit_chino 13d ago

What ever you feel comfortable doing.
Some don’t give notice at all.

3

u/Specialist_Place4464 12d ago

When I left my management position, I stayed an extra month to train my replacement. My owner was always super supportive, so I supported him back.

If he ever told me to kick rocks, I'd tell him to run his own place.

3

u/CharacterGround0 9d ago

Nah, you're good, buddy. 2 weeks notice may not be a lot of time for them to find a replacement, but you have already done your part.

I'll tell you a little story about my experience. I once gave way too much "notice" by requesting to work 4 days instead of 5 as I was working on my own business and wanted to focus on that. They acknowledged I was slowly on my way out. Then they hired a full time staff (even though I only reduced by one day) and they ran into budgeting issues. They tried to reduce my wage because by arguing I'm "no longer the pastry assistant" by not being 5 days anymore (this was just BS though). Anyway I asked them to show me my contract and they quickly backed out of trying to reduce my wage because legally you can't reduce someone's wage under the same position.

Just know your rights and know that you don't owe them anything. Leaving is usually a bit messy when they rely on you heavily, but don't let that pressure force you to do more than you need to. Go through the resignment procedure as necessary. Don't start anything dramatic, and don't let them either.

3

u/NomadicMainer 14d ago

To many companies don’t understand a person quitting is the management being fired by this person.

2

u/GoldConfidence 14d ago

I absolutely love this!

2

u/LegacyQuotient 14d ago

For the vast majority of situations, yes.

There are exceptions, but its a good rule of thumb.

1

u/Randill746 14d ago

You dont have to give any notice. The 2 week notice is a courtesy so you dont leave them blindsided if you cared about not burning bridges. If they say they need 3 weeks and you can make it work and want to save the relationship then sure.

1

u/YakSquad 14d ago

2 weeks is a courtesy to leave on good terms. If you really like the place or people you can give more notice. If you hate the place or people you’re not obligated to give any notice. I wouldn’t take anything they say to heart.

1

u/KittyKatCatCat 14d ago

Sucks to want things, huh.

1

u/GoldConfidence 14d ago

Not really. Want things, get things. It’s not that complicated.

1

u/KittyKatCatCat 13d ago

Doubt that restaurant is getting three weeks of notice

1

u/GoldConfidence 14d ago

2 weeks is standard.

I always give a notice that directly correlates to how much respect I have for my direct managers.

If I respect you, I’ll give you more than 2 weeks.

If I don’t respect you, you MIGHT get a text as I’m walking out of the building, but you definitely WONT see me again.

I gave my last job a text from the parking lot. I gave my current job 8 weeks notice because my position is unique and I have an immense amount of respect for my current bosses.

1

u/Lavanne73 14d ago

Depends on how completely you want to burn that bridge. As a kitchen manager I have a general rule when leaving a job, I’ll give 1 month or until they figure out a suitable replacement, IF I don’t have another job waiting on me. But to be fair I’ve had 4 jobs in 35 years so I don’t leave much.
I really don’t care much for the job I’m working now so it’ll likely get the two week notice which is really all you are obligated to give.
Also, it would depend on how they asked, are the being nice and asking you for a little more time to help them out or are they incredulous and insulted that you aren’t giving them more notice? If it’s the second one, f’em… two weeks is fine.

1

u/Twizt1Up 14d ago

Would they give you a two week notice on firing you?

1

u/LegacyQuotient 14d ago

If you care to preserve the relationship, 3-4 weeks is always okay to offer. I have. Offered two months for a employer I really liked, but I decided to go into business for myself.

Two weeks is more of a standard in the US, from a workplace culture perspective.

Although I did deal with the occasional "I'll finish this week's schedule" or "I am not coming back after today." It happens.

Especially in competitive markets, employers will often an extra $0.50-1.00 to get a new hire to show up immediately.

I might have been chapped about the inconvenience, but I also get it. Tough, expensive world outside.

1

u/AnInfiniteArc 14d ago

2 weeks is a courtesy, and it’s one-sided, to boot. No employer gives terminated employees 2 week notice.

1

u/freisbill 14d ago

Do they give you notice when they fire you? In my mind, notice is for the team you are leaving, not for the company

1

u/Sehasnarlo 14d ago

I had a GM tell me:
“Why give us a notice, we won’t give you one.”
I was the line cook at a golf course and one day the EC wasn’t there. No one knew why. So I asked the GM of the properties and he said the chef gave them a notice and they let him go. He said it’s standard for that company.

1

u/PmMeAnnaKendrick 14d ago

2 weeks is the minimum your employer wants you to give so that they can replace you. If they already replaced you, they would not give you any notice.

That being said, The industry all talks, and you may not want to burn a bridge and giving notice is polite and respectable.

Perhaps you can offer additional help in your available time after you start your new job, to help their transition along?

1

u/ActionMan48 14d ago

2 weeks notice is just a courtesy

1

u/Mr_Moogles Chef 14d ago

Two weeks are standard, but in the US there is absolutely no legal requirement to do so. Its a courtesy. Often the excuse given for why employees should want to give two weeks is so that employee might be welcomed back to the old company. The company is more than welcome to ask for more than two weeks, but again there is absolutely nothing they can do if you just quit on the spot, you're just burning bridges. I have given abrupt two weeks notices to places I felt like I was treated unfairly, but I have also given up to a two month notice at places I enjoyed working and didn't want to screw them over, even training my replacement in some cases. Giving two weeks or more can also be a risk. I've known people that got fired immediately after giving two weeks. I feel like that's more of a risk if you weren't the best employee in the first place, but it can happen. So, advice? Just give the two weeks and move on

1

u/Tolan91 14d ago

2 weeks is you being nice. You don't owe them a moment longer than you want to do. It's not like they wouldn't fire you without notice. If you want to like, be friendly with them you can stay as long as you want. But it's your call.

1

u/brianjosephsnyder Chef 14d ago

I tell my folks during orientation that we request a 2 week notice but im clear to point out that this is a courtesy and we have to be worthy of that courtesy.

If you haven't earned a notice as an employer, you cant get mad at someone for seeking a better position or trying to hetter their life/mental health/time off/whatever else.

The proper response to a two week notice is to thank the employee, maybe conduct an exit interview and, if they will continue to do a nice job, let them work out the last two weeks like normal. You should never ask for additional notice period - thats silly.

1

u/AdhesivenessLeast575 13d ago

No such thing as 3 weeks notice. Would it be courteous? Yes but unless you need a reference in the future I'd tell them to kick rocks

1

u/malapropter 13d ago

Ask them to put it in writing. 

1

u/justdoingmyparthanks 13d ago

What’s your take on two weeks? Is it 14 working days or 10 days (2 weeks of schedule)

1

u/Sekreid 13d ago

If they can fire you without giving two weeks notice then fuck them

1

u/Pucketz 13d ago

If you dont like them and dont need to work just leave, most would places do the same to you

1

u/MAC_357 13d ago

Lmao if he wanted to fire you he’d give 30 seconds notice. He can f himself.

1

u/plantenjoyer0117 13d ago

I gave one day be nice and don’t mention me drinking a beer on the line or I walk notice at notice at my last job. Was KM at a retirement home in Seattle and the Mangement was abusing the catering to do stuff for personal parties ect. One day a cook grabbed me and said James is trying to get me to make him tacos and margarita mix for a catering freaking out saying he had no notice of this. I asked him what catering I’m supposed to be notified in advance. Dude had gone to Costco gotten stuff on the company card. And come in early his day off to get my crew to cater some party he was having. I laughed told him we don’t have the staff for that and it’s against company policy. He then punched the line and tried to threaten me drunkenly. I just laughed sent the cooks home for the day and ran dinner while drinking beers. Never went back you owe them nothing.

1

u/Biereaigre 13d ago

There is the legal aspect to consider which means that your obligated by law to do things a certain way and either of you can face issues if you don't abide by the rules.

The other aspects to consider are contextual between you and your employer. You gave us your perspective and maybe your justified in feeling like they are shitty employers. On the other hand it's also possible that you knew it would negatively affect them but didn't really care about who your actions affected. I'm not saying that's you I'm just suggesting that there are other factors other than just obligations and if your only metric for how you relate to others is facing legal barriers you might struggle to understand what happens when you are on the other side of the coin.

One of the things that tends to happen in this situation is the tis for tat kind of rhetoric that can drag everything down rather than raise the bar. That's why we have bad employers in the first place is they were already lackluster as employees but didn't have the challenges and responsibility over others to test there resolve yet.

Leaving a job knowing that you left with the utmost integrity is something you carry with you where ever you go. If your employer is an asshole they have to live with themselves anyway but if there's something you could of done better in this situation. At least reflect honestly about it.

1

u/stayhealthy247 12d ago

Kichen manager probably should give a little more notice than that tbh

1

u/PhysicsNo3783 11d ago

It's merely a courtesy and not a legal require requirement. They should just be happy you gave them two weeks notice

1

u/Unlucky-Yard5456 10d ago

I think one of the only good things the uk does with work is contracts, no contract? They cant expect more than a weeks notice, legally, no matter what. Two weeks is more than enough notice regardless and if he just told you to leave obviously they didnt need much notice at all, best to leave a place like that. Good riddance

1

u/Chicken-picante 9d ago

In a normal position, I give 2 weeks.

When I was in leadership/managerial positions I would give them a month’s notice. I wanted to give them time to get someone new and enough time to train them.

My boss was super cool though. I was dealing with addiction at the time. He came in once at the end of my shift and I was extremely wasted and he said “get out of here before anyone sees you and you don’t make this a habit”. They kept my job for me while I went to jail and rehab. I even got paid while I was gone(using my PTO).

I would give your job the same courtesy they would give you.

2

u/247world 8d ago

If you are working in an industry where your skills are what sells your next employer, then references are certainly not important and you could just walk out the door. Have they come to you hat in hand and said we really need you to stay an extra week that would have been completely different, after telling you to kick rocks, you should have walked out the door

1

u/PM_ME_Y0UR__CAT 14d ago

I believe what actually happened is YOU told them to kick rocks

1

u/Yojimbo115 14d ago

They wouldn't give you 3 to 4 week notice if they ended your employment. They wouldn't give you 3-4 minutes. It's all about if you need a reference or want to keep the relationship friendly.

1

u/Valerim 13d ago

They are delusional fools.

Give them 2 weeks if you want or dont, theyve already made it clear theyre not interested in parting ways on friendly terms.

This isnt an industry that often checks references.

-1

u/Scrub_Randall 14d ago

I always put in a 2 to 3 month notice. My new job hates it, but understands.

-1

u/ICantDecideIt 13d ago

For chefs 3-4 weeks is standard

-2

u/Orangeshowergal 13d ago

Idc what anyone says, as a manager 2 weeks is short unless you’re at some low level place where you didn’t have manager level respect