Can an employer terminate a worker without any prior notification?

[debodun]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

In the past week, I had two friends that had a family member's employment terminated without any warning from the employer. These people just showed up for work one day and were told their services were no longer required. I know it's customary for an employee to have to give two weeks "notice". Why doesn't this apply to employers?

 

[CSO286]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

In the past week, I had two friends that had a family member's employment terminated without any warning from the employer. These people just showed up for work one day and were told their services were no longer required. I know it's customary for an employee to have to give two weeks "notice". Why doesn't this apply to employers?

Because while it may be "customary,", it is not required by law.

 

[swalsh411]

Except in cases of layoffs and plant closures (when everybody knows what is going on already) it would be foolish to tell an employee they will be terminated in two weeks. That would give them a chance to "get even" and do who knows what kind of damage.

 

[cbg]

I once worked for an employer who fired an employee for just cause. They gave her 15 minutes to collect her personal belongings and say goodbye. In that 15 minutes she:

* Caused $2000 worth of damage to equipment
* Deleted several key files
* Cancelled all the travel arrangments for all the senior management for the rest of the calendar year (it was October, and those boys travelled a LOT)

If she could do all that in 15 minutes, can you imagine what an employee could do with two weeks notice?

 

[Zigner]

A friend used to work at a large "computer related" company. They would enter their code in the keypad in order to get in the building. When one was terminated, the code would stop working. The person would then go to the front office where there would be a box of personal belongings gathered from their desk waiting for them.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

Company told employees they would be laid off in two weeks. In those two weeks, six had accidents causing back injuries and went out on worker's comp.

 

[commentator]

And by the way, two weeks notice is not required of an employee, either. "At will" employment goes both ways. Many times, if the employee tries to give two weeks notice, or three months notice, or whatever, if they try to give notice of intention to leave the job, the employer will say, "Leave right now!" for all the reasons cited above. They don't want lame duck employees, for any reason. If there is a mass layoff or company closing, and it falls into the guildelines, the employer would be required to give what are called WARN notices to the employees. But in the case of letting just a few employees, or one or two go, they can do it completely without notice in the absence of a union contract which covers this situation.