Notice Period
The time between giving notice that you're leaving a job and your last day of work. In the US, two weeks is the professional standard. In some European countries, 1-3 months is legally required. Some roles have contractual notice requirements.
A notice period is the time from when you inform your employer that you're leaving until your official last working day. In the US, two weeks' notice is the professional norm but not a legal requirement. **US standard:** US employers are not required to provide advance notice of termination (at-will doctrine), and employees are not legally required to give notice either. Two weeks' notice is professional courtesy, not a legal obligation. **When you must give notice:** If your employment contract or offer letter specifies a notice requirement, it may be enforceable. Senior and executive roles sometimes include contractual 30, 60, or 90-day notice provisions. **When employers can waive your notice:** Employers can accept your resignation immediately and ask you to leave on day 1 of your notice period. They may choose to pay out your notice period without requiring you to work it — this is common for sensitive roles. **Garden leave:** In some roles (common in UK employment and some US financial services), employers keep employees on the payroll during the notice period but ask them not to work — to prevent them from serving competitors in a transition role. **The new job start date negotiation:** Most new employers will negotiate start date to accommodate a notice period. Standard expectation is 2 weeks. If your current role requires 30 days, most employers will wait. **When to give shorter notice:** If your current workplace is toxic or unsafe, or if the employer is unlikely to honor the two weeks professionally, shorter notice (or immediate departure) can be justified. Burning bridges is a real risk in most industries.
Why it matters
Notice period management affects both your relationship with your departing employer (who may serve as a reference) and your start date at your new employer. Handling it professionally keeps both relationships intact.
Candidate tip
When accepting a new offer, ask for 3 working days before you need to give your notice — this gives you time to review the offer letter carefully and confirm the terms before making the move irreversible.
Related terms
At-Will Employment
Offers & NegotiationThe legal default in the US where either party — employer or employee — can terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason (with some legal exceptions). Most US jobs are at-will unless a contract specifies otherwise.
Garden Leave
Offers & NegotiationA practice where an employee is asked to leave the workplace immediately upon resignation but remains on the payroll — and often prohibited from joining a competitor — during their notice period. Common in finance, law, and roles with access to sensitive information.
Employment Contract
Offers & NegotiationA legally binding agreement between employer and employee that specifies the terms of employment — compensation, role, duration (if fixed), termination conditions, and any special provisions. More common for executives, contractors, and international hires than for general US employees.
Probation Period
Offers & NegotiationAn initial employment period (typically 30-90 days) during which a new employee's performance and fit are evaluated, often with reduced job protections or easier termination procedures for the employer. Common globally; less formalized in the US.