Employee quits job after two years of devoted work, only to be told by manager their three-week notice isn't enough: ‘Now they’re not getting any notice’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 16, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

Leaving a job you actually enjoy and like is a tough decision that no one should take lightly. Every day, we all hear how difficult it is to find a job, let alone one that brings you joy. Leaving a job like that should only happen if you have absolutely no other choice. 

That was the case for the employee in the story below. They enjoyed their job; they liked the work and the people. When they decided to go to school, they knew it meant that they couldn't keep working there full-time anymore, and it wasn't easy to decide to quit their job.

Since they liked their boss, they called and gave a three-week notice, which is more than necessary in most jobs. However, this was not enough for the boss, who demanded at least a month's notice instead.

This led to quite a long process, and at the end of it, this employee quit without giving any notice at all. Keep scrolling to read the full story.

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  • 01
    woman handing resignation letter and packing
    via charliepix

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    My boss said 3 weeks notice wasn’t enough, so now they’re not getting any notice.

    A little background: I've been working for this company full time since May 2024, as part of an office staff for a small, family-owned swim school.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 03
    I've been promoted twice on account of my work ethic and not being problematic. Since I've started, we've fired around (5) office staff members and had another 5 quit.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 04
    The supervisors have stayed the same, but out of all the "regular" office staff, I've been here the longest.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 05
    I started school FT, and I became unavailable in April for my regular shifts. I really like this place, and I knew it'd be difficult to find another job, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone by giving my three weeks notice.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 06
    Since this place doesn't employ part time office staff, I figured I would find another job for those 3 days I am available + after school.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 07
    The company is family owned, so I first called one of the owners (my boss) to tell her over the phone before sending out an email.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 08
    I told her I was very much appreciative of working there, but due to school I'd have to quit to find another job to fit my schedule.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 09
    This was basically the conversation: Me: "Thank you so much, but as of today I will be putting my three weeks notice.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 10
    Again, thank you for allowing me to work here. I really like the staff and the job, but I am going to start school in May." Her: "Aw really?
    via FloweySunflower
  • 11
    When we hired you, we asked you if you were going to school and you said no." Me: "Yeah haha..." She hadn't ever asked me that, and either ways I made the decision to continue studying in October.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 12
    Woman leaving office with a cardboard box
    via iJeab

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    Her: "Alright, well that sucks. But three weeks notice isn't enough time, we have to interview and hire people." Me: I paused.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 14
    "Isn't it courtesy to give 2 weeks notice?" Her: "Yes, minimum.” Me: "Okay, but I'm giving you three weeks." At that point she sighed & then asked me to send her a group-chat about my schedule, to see if they could work around it.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 15
    So since May 2025, I've been working part-time. It hasn't really been working out and I already got hired at another place so... Today's my last day, I'm sending my letter of resignation once I clock out, and leaving my keys in the safe.
    via FloweySunflower
  • 16
    NemesisOfLevia Most companies will tell you you're done and then escort you to the door. Some will have someone walk you to your office to get your stuff, but I've known people who didn't even get that much. (They had to ask their coworkers to get their stuff...) Look out for yourself first. You're only there as an asset to the company and can be replaced at any time for any reason. Companies will get mad if you have any sort of life outside of work (activities, school, celebrations, life chang
    via NemesisOfLevia
  • 17
    OP FloweySunflower One of my coworkers who l deeply liked quit after like 2-3 weeks because she was returning to school & was told "It's either school or this job." I thought she was exaggerating until I saw her task on our office board with the owner saying exactly that ...
    via FloweySunflower
  • 18
    seaclifftonne Does this mean you gave notice in May? The exchange about 2 vs. 3 weeks is quite funny.
    via seaclifftonne
  • 19
    OP FloweySunflower Yes I was giving it but they worked my schedule out to PT. I work 10 hr shifts so it was very hard to keep me FT
    via FloweySunflower
  • 20
    Dont_Care_Meh I'm struggling to conceptualize the "small family owned swim school" you worked at. It doesn't sound like a sprawling company, or one that really needs much admin--just instructors, right? So what is going on there that they've gone through 10 office workers in the short time you've worked for them? Is the family swim school really that bad?
    via Dont_Care_Meh
  • 21
    OP FloweySunflower I'll answer you LMAO. We've also had instructors quit and lifeguards. It's either other staff, clients, or scheduling. From the office staff that was here when I started: one supervisor left. One office staff member became an EMT, another a security guard, another is a freelancer, one quit for medical issues, and two others quit after 2 weeks of working here. One staff member was fired for getting a complaint, another was fired for starting drama with other staff (including my
    via FloweySunflower
  • 22
    Delicious_Link6703 What does your contract of employment say about notice to leave?
    via Delicious_Link6703
  • 23
    OP FloweySunflower Literally nothing
    via FloweySunflower
  • 24
    sparksgirl1223 When I got pushback about how much notice I gave (coupled with the way said pushback was worded), I stopped showing up all together. Notice is a courtesy that has been instilled in us. That same job wouldn't give you much, if any, notice if they were laying you off or firing you.
    via sparksgirl1223
  • 25
    gobblegobblechumps Once had a manager tell me that two weeks notice in corporate america meant 14 business days
    via gobblegobblechumps
  • 26
    Repulsive-Rain-835 How much notice did they give the 5 they fired? GET F'ed
    via Repulsive-Rain-835
  • 27
    I started school FT, and I became unavailable in April for my regular shifts. I really like this place, and I knew it'd be difficult to find another job, so I thought I'd k I two birds with one stone by giving my three weeks notice.
    via FloweySunflower

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notice boss workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace reddit story overworked-employees workplace Reddit company quitting resignation
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