How To Give Two Weeks Notice?

[Unregistered]

I've been working at this preschool/daycare for over a few months now, and the problems I had at first are only getting worse. There's no structure, yet conversely, there's weird rules that I don't necessarily agree with. Overall, it just isn't a good fit for me. I was supposed to work until December next year but earlier I told her that I wouldn't be returning the next year. I thought that a week long spring break would help me reset and make it to the summer, but even that didn't work. I literally spent a good portion worrying about going back because of work.

I need to quit for my mental health and my grades (college student). The problem is, it's a small home daycare where the director has only me and another assistant. She doesn't even have that many kids (ranging from 3-8), but I don't think she can handle them without an assistant.

I know from someone else that when her friend tried to quit, she tried to guilt her into staying. I also got that impression from an email I sent her where I asked if she was looking int hiring anyone yet (I offered to help her hire at the college Education Department). She made it pretty clear she wasn't happy and she told me that "This is not a good time for me to let you go completely. I have so much to do and you did commit when I hired you." Personally, this just stressed me out more. I feel like I'm more of an indentured servant than a paid employee.

How do I give two weeks notice without making those next two weeks extremely awkward?

[Baby Beluga]

It will be awkward regardless.

But, that doesn't mean that you can't give your two weeks, be professional and let whatever guilt she throws your way roll off your back.

:hug: :hug:

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

It will be awkward regardless.

But, that doesn't mean that you can't give your two weeks, be professional and let whatever guilt she throws your way roll off your back.

:hug: :hug:

Good advice. Go ahead and give notice. She may ask if you want to stop working sooner, too, during that 2 week notice period.

[Unregistered]

It will be awkward regardless.

But, that doesn't mean that you can't give your two weeks, be professional and let whatever guilt she throws your way roll off your back.

:hug: :hug:

Is two weeks notice appropriate for this setting? My worry is that she'll try to tell me that you have to give more notice, or guilt me into saying that they now have to cover my hours and that I didn't give them enough time to prepare. There's nothing online that has told me if there's a certain amount of time that workers should give when quitting daycare. To be truthful, I would like to quit immediately, but I know that wouldn't be responsible.

[sharlan]

Is two weeks notice appropriate for this setting? My worry is that she'll try to tell me that you have to give more notice, or guilt me into saying that they now have to cover my hours and that I didn't give them enough time to prepare. There's nothing online that has told me if there's a certain amount of time that workers should give when quitting daycare. To be truthful, I would like to quit immediately, but I know that wouldn't be responsible.

Two weeks is sufficient. Do not make her problems your problems. Just don't plan on using her as a reference. I guarantee you won't get a good one.

[daycarediva]

Two weeks is sufficient. Do you have a contract? Employee handbook?

[Unregistered]

She cant make you work for her. If she gives you a hard time I would honestly leave immediately. Ive known people to give 2 months notice, ive also known people to leave the same day.

[Pestle]

You write a VERY brief, formal letter that doesn't list all your reasons for leaving and does give a hard final date. Then, no matter what your employer says, you smile and reiterate, "I understand how you feel. However, my last day is X." If you plan on staying in this career, you might not want to make it sound as if your health is in conflict with the job; that'll make getting a good reference difficult. Likewise, you don't want to use it as an opportunity to criticize your employer. Just use a vague "for personal reasons."

You are an AT WILL EMPLOYEE. You can be terminated on the spot, and you can quit on the spot, for any reason at all. It's in your hands to keep it classy; you can't control how your employer reacts. Just give notice and maybe she'll accept it and maybe she won't, but she can't force anybody to stay a minute later than they want to.

3/20/17

Ms. Jones,
For personal reasons, I have decided to move on from Daycare X. I am tendering two week's notice. My final day of availability will be 4/3/2017.

I have enjoyed working with you and with the children and I'm grateful for the time I spent here.

With thanks,
Millie McDaycare

[daycare]

You write a VERY brief, formal letter that doesn't list all your reasons for leaving and does give a hard final date. Then, no matter what your employer says, you smile and reiterate, "I understand how you feel. However, my last day is X." If you plan on staying in this career, you might not want to make it sound as if your health is in conflict with the job; that'll make getting a good reference difficult. Likewise, you don't want to use it as an opportunity to criticize your employer. Just use a vague "for personal reasons."

You are an AT WILL EMPLOYEE. You can be terminated on the spot, and you can quit on the spot, for any reason at all. It's in your hands to keep it classy; you can't control how your employer reacts. Just give notice and maybe she'll accept it and maybe she won't, but she can't force anybody to stay a minute later than they want to.

3/20/17

Ms. Jones,
For personal reasons, I have decided to move on from Daycare X. I am tendering two week's notice. My final day of availability will be 4/3/2017.

I have enjoyed working with you and with the children and I'm grateful for the time I spent here.

With thanks,
Millie McDaycare

I agree with this.

I have employees. I actually also have one just quit. I will tell you what I told my employee. YOU Have to do what is best for you and take care of yourself. Is this the worst time that the staff could have given me notice, yet it is, but it is not their problem, it's mine.

I am sad that my employee will be moving on, but I am happy that they have learned a lot while they were here with me and I armed them to be successful should they continue on working in this field. The employee like you is also a college student and I have watched them take on a lot over the last several months, it was only time before everything caught up with them.

I want nothing but the best for all of my employees and if that means they would be better off not working with me, I would honor and understand that.

Your boss should be doing the same. It is not YOUR problem she doesn't have anyone else. If I were you, I would write her a brief letter like shown by the PP and be done. You don't owe her anything.

It's part of the responsibility of running this business as the owner.

best of luck to you. Hope that you were able to get some help here.

[Baby Beluga]

You write a VERY brief, formal letter that doesn't list all your reasons for leaving and does give a hard final date. Then, no matter what your employer says, you smile and reiterate, "I understand how you feel. However, my last day is X." If you plan on staying in this career, you might not want to make it sound as if your health is in conflict with the job; that'll make getting a good reference difficult. Likewise, you don't want to use it as an opportunity to criticize your employer. Just use a vague "for personal reasons."

You are an AT WILL EMPLOYEE. You can be terminated on the spot, and you can quit on the spot, for any reason at all. It's in your hands to keep it classy; you can't control how your employer reacts. Just give notice and maybe she'll accept it and maybe she won't, but she can't force anybody to stay a minute later than they want to.

3/20/17

Ms. Jones,
For personal reasons, I have decided to move on from Daycare X. I am tendering two week's notice. My final day of availability will be 4/3/2017.

I have enjoyed working with you and with the children and I'm grateful for the time I spent here.

With thanks,
Millie McDaycare

The above letter is perfect.

[CityGarden]

Two weeks is sufficient. Do not make her problems your problems. Just don't plan on using her as a reference. I guarantee you won't get a good one.

This is great advice.

[Unregistered]

Just to update! It did not go well. The director was pretty ruthless and unforgiving. At one point she just snarkly asked if I wanted to walk out now. At that point I was pretty much done as well so I told her that I wouldn't assume to walk out the same day and that I was giving two weeks notice as a professional curtesy. She also asked me why, and when I started to mention my stress, she told me that she didn't need to hear about that then went off on her own stress of interviewing parents, taking care of her mother, and handling taxes. Overall just very unpleasant, and in the end, she said as a backhand insult that she wouldn't be hiring college students again. At that I finally snapped and told her that that would be advisable considering we generally consider education to be our main priority. (My reason for quitting was my wanting to focus on school work)

At the end she came back downstairs when I was outside with the kids, made me leave them outside ALONE and told me that she didn't want someone here who "doesn't want to be here" and that I could leave.

[Mike]

I wouldn't bother going back then.

[Pestle]

You are well out of that situation. What an unprofessional person.

[daycare]

What that's crazy.
So was she out of compliance when you left?

I also wouldn't go back that's not mature, professional or actually even legal on her part.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this.