Leaving a job can be scary.
Most employees in equestrian jobs are “at will” employees. This means that legally the employee can can leave whenever he/she wants and the employer can fire the employee without any warning. Unless you are under contract (written or verbal) you are an “at will” employee. The law on this subject is a little more complicated than this, so before you jump to conclusions, consult a legal authority.
What about the moral situation? In our society, it is fairly common for employers to expect and employees to give between two weeks and 30 days notice when they intend to leave a job. However, the notice period is entirely negotiable. Here are some things to consider when planning to give notice to your employer:
1. “At will” employees are under no strict obligation to give notice, or to stay for the full amount of any notice period given. (However, doing so is usually in the employee’s best interests. Don’t burn bridges unless there is no other choice.)
2. Generally speaking, the more responsibility you have and the more indispensable you are, the longer the notice period should be.
3. In most situations, giving more than 30 days notice, may make it harder for you to secure your next job or meet the terms necessary to satisfy your next employer.
4. An equine employee may agree with an employer to work through a certain date or until the completion of a particular event like a show or sale. However, the employee may still need to leave sooner.
5. After giving notice at an equine, the employee’s circumstances may change and the notice period may need to be renegotiated. Be ready to make adjustments.
6. Remember that equine employment is a “mutual” agreement. Loyalty to the employer should not require that the equine employee work indefinitely to allow the employer to find a replacement. If the shoe were on the other foot and the employer were laying off the employees, would the equine employer keep the employees on indefinitely until the employee found another job? In most cases, no. Both parties will have decisions to make that may not fit everyone’s needs. If possible, come to mutually acceptable terms.
7. It is reasonable for an employer to think badly of the equine employee if he/she leaves unexpectedly “in the middle of the night” without giving any notice at all? Probably not. Sometimes there is just not any way of terminating a situation cleanly. Even when attempts are made to end the situation amicably, details may get in the way. That’s just the way things are. Don’t feel guilty for disappointing the employer. You have the right to move on if that’s what you need to do.
