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Having worked for (and left) a couple of startups, I'd be reluctant to follow his advice. Most entrepreneurs think of their companies as something between a bel

by gamble 17y ago

Having worked for (and left) a couple of startups, I'd be reluctant to follow his advice. Most entrepreneurs think of their companies as something between a beloved child and a religion. For some, quitting is like you declared their kid is an ugly git. It's better just to sever the relationship quickly before it has time to sour.

j_baker 17y ago
I think the lesson is that not every startup is the same. Some will follow the template the author outlined and some will be different. As a rule, I'd say that you know the startup you're working for well enough to know which side you should tend towards.
- gamble 17y ago
  I agree in principle, but you have to take into consideration the fact that most of the risk in these decisions lies with the employee. Misjudge, and it will be a very unpleasant few months. As a rule of thumb, I would avoid giving more than required notice when quitting because you're unhappy with the job. There's no way to explain it that won't eventually create a poisonous atmosphere. If it's something less emotionally loaded, like moving to accompany a spouse or to go back to school, then a couple of months notice could be seen as a noble gesture. Any longer and there's no realistic benefit for the employer, but plenty of risk for the employee.
MicahWedemeyer 17y ago
I agree 100%. Whatever the reason, once you make that declaration, you've made it clear that something else in your life is more important than "the company" Most employers don't take that well, and startup founders even less. Having watched fellow startup employees be let go and told to clear out by the end of the day, I don't believe they (or you, or I) have any duty to give more than the culturally accepted 2-weeks notice.
- mmt 17y ago
  What I've never understood is the double-standard. Why is it culturally acceptable for the employer to give same-day notice, but the employee should give 2 weeks? I always advise to give the amount of notice (or severance) the employer would give. If the departure is prompted by a recent layoff, there's not even need to speculate.
  - andrewf 17y ago
    In Australia, you might leave the office the day you give notice, but you'll still get paid for the minimum notice period even if the company doesn't want you showing up to work.

by gamble 17y ago

j_baker 17y ago

I think the lesson is that not every startup is the same. Some will follow the template the author outlined and some will be different. As a rule, I'd say that you know the startup you're working for well enough to know which side you should tend towards.

gamble 17y ago
I agree in principle, but you have to take into consideration the fact that most of the risk in these decisions lies with the employee. Misjudge, and it will be a very unpleasant few months. As a rule of thumb, I would avoid giving more than required notice when quitting because you're unhappy with the job. There's no way to explain it that won't eventually create a poisonous atmosphere. If it's something less emotionally loaded, like moving to accompany a spouse or to go back to school, then a couple of months notice could be seen as a noble gesture. Any longer and there's no realistic benefit for the employer, but plenty of risk for the employee.

MicahWedemeyer 17y ago

I agree 100%. Whatever the reason, once you make that declaration, you've made it clear that something else in your life is more important than "the company" Most employers don't take that well, and startup founders even less. Having watched fellow startup employees be let go and told to clear out by the end of the day, I don't believe they (or you, or I) have any duty to give more than the culturally accepted 2-weeks notice.

mmt 17y ago
What I've never understood is the double-standard. Why is it culturally acceptable for the employer to give same-day notice, but the employee should give 2 weeks? I always advise to give the amount of notice (or severance) the employer would give. If the departure is prompted by a recent layoff, there's not even need to speculate.
- andrewf 17y ago
  In Australia, you might leave the office the day you give notice, but you'll still get paid for the minimum notice period even if the company doesn't want you showing up to work.