If you have an employment agreement or other contract, then you should read it to see how much notice you are required to give. To leave sooner than may be considered a breach of your contract.
What if you are an at-will employee? They can fire you without warning, so does that mean you can walk out the door the moment you decide you want to leave?
There’s more to it than the law says
The basic legal premise is that yes, you can leave whenever you wish. You do not need to give any notice to an employer if they hired you as an at-will employee. Before you do this, however, it is important to consider whether this is really how you want your relationship to end.
Sometimes, it may be justified. But often, giving at least some notice can be a much better choice. Your employer may not be able to replace you immediately. That could cause problems for them, your colleagues and customers. Imagine how upset your colleagues might be if you walked out of the company just before an important project is due, leaving them scrambling to pick up the pieces.
You can also probably imagine that any future employer who calls your former employer for a reference might be put off if they hear you left the company in the lurch by giving no notice. Many people consider that between one week and a month is reasonable, depending on how long you have worked at the company. While it is not an obligation as an at-will employee, it’s definitely worth considering.
If you have questions or concerns about the terms of your employment agreement or contract and your ability to leave your job or if you believe you’ve been wrongly penalized or retaliated against, it can help to get legal guidance to protect your rights.