Two week notice immediately after parental leave Forum

[Anonymous User]

Biglaw, 3rd year, major market. How would it look if someone put in their 2 week notice the day they came back from a fully paid parental leave? It doesn't seem "right" but otoh isn't illegal or against firm policy. Anyone have any experience (1st hand or not) or ideas on what to expect?

tyia

[unlicensedpotato]

I suspect even in the best of circumstances that they'll ask you to leave now and not pay you for the last two weeks.

[LBJ's Hair]

It's incredibly unprofessional. If you're leaving the industry permanently, fair enough--guess you don't care. If you see yourself trying to reenter BigLaw, I would seriously consider sticking on for a few months to try and make a more graceful exit.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Meh, it happens. Attrition is a real thing, I actually don’t see the big deal at all. I know people that quit after a multi-week vacation and there were no hard feelings. All part of the game.

[miskellyjohnson]

It is totally understandable that you would want to quit working after having a baby-- even if that wasnt the initial plan. Your maternity leave was a benefit. You took the benefit you were entitled to. Giving two weeks notice is standard, and you probably actually do have some work left to finish/transfer/clean up. The law firm is not going to cry about $8,000 or whatever your 2 weeks pay is, especially if you actually bill something during that time... They could tell you just to leave and not pay you, but again you probably actually do have some transition work to do and, again, it is small money to a law firm.

Continuing to work for a few months after you just had a baby because you dont want to appear unprofessional is nuts to me. Planning to go back to work, having the baby, then deciding not to go back to work is entirely common.

[nixy]

Agree that there’s no reason not to do this. Also, depending on the nature of the job you’re leaving for, you may not have much of a choice on timing (for some jobs you have to apply when there’s an opening and follow their schedule).

(Also, the OP could be the dad here.)

[misterjames]

This is very common. I assume the naysayers above are inexperienced. This happens all the time.

[shock259]

Happens a lot. It may leave a bad taste in some people's mouth, but I don't think most people care much. Tons of associates leave immediately after maternity/paternity leave. Honestly leaving right away is better than coming back for a few weeks and then telling them you are leaving. At least you haven't been staffed on things that they then have you take you off of.

If I was really close to the people in my group and I trusted them, I'd consider telling the partner so that they can begin the process of replacing you. That way they aren't twiddling their thumbs, getting excited to have you back to do billable work, and then have to start the process of hiring someone new. But I wouldn't do so in a way that jeopardizes you getting paid.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback and someone correctly pointed out that it is paternity and not maternity leave. I wrote it it ambiguously on purpose but dont really know why.

I'm guessing most people's opinion doesnt change because I'm the father?

[Guchster]

I don't think it makes a difference if it's paternity versus maternity leave. This happened to a male associate at my firm a couple of years ago--he came back for a couple of weeks and then put in his 2 week notice. He claimed that he realized after the fact it wasn't feasible to continue working at our firm with a new baby and needed to resign. Some of the partners seemed less than thrilled about it, but it didn't seem to be as reputation shattering as others ITT seem to be implying (at least at my firm).

I think it's another thing if you advertise people at your firm that you're strategically doing this--I wouldn't even recommend other associates as the rumor mill can find its way to unintended ears.

[miskellyjohnson]

I dont think paternity vs. maternity makes a difference.

i DO think what you do after makes a difference. If you are planning to take time off completely, or to work in a smaller firm with lower hours/stress, or to move to live closer to the grandparents or something, then it is totally understandable to say "Since the birth of my child, my priorities have changed and I can no longer dedicate myself to this type of work" or whatever. If, on the other hand, you quit and immediately end up at a biglaw firm down the street that has the same type of work/stress/hour requirements, I think that may leave a bad taste.

Have you thought about trying to have the firm accommodate you? E.g., reduced hour requirements (in exchange for reduced salary) . I agree that a firm is highly unlikely to agree to such an arrangement, but it might be worth a shot and would make it look like you didnt have a plan to screw the firm the whole time (though, like other posters, I wouldnt be so worried about this).

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I would be moving to live with my wife and our baby. Shes currently living in a different city and our firm only has a small satellite office in that city and no one from our group. I will indeed move to another biglaw firm in the new city.

I think I have a compelling enough reason to leave, but wanted to know what to expect on timing. Thoughts?

Thanks again people.

[2013]

You have a legitimate reason. Obviously it’s not ideal that you are giving two weeks immediately after getting back from a 6-8+ week paternity leave (especially because it’ll look like you spent that time interviewing elsewhere), but who cares?

Obviously bridges will be burned, but the same people who are upset about you giving two weeks immediately to join your family are probably the same people who weren’t too enthused to learn you were taking paternity leave.

Can’t please everyone.

[nixy]

Oh goodness that is about the most legitimate move I can imagine. Frankly I don't think anyone would be surprised to see you leave in those circumstances.

Edited to add: if you know you're not coming back, could you just give notice 2 weeks before your leave ends and not come back?

[joeschmoe]

I did this earlier this year. There were no hard feelings, like others have said, it is part of the game. I gave notice 2 weeks before my paternity leave was up and came back to work only to turn in my laptop and say my goodbyes.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Thanks again everyone. Looks like it's nbd.