Help me calculate my last date of employment
August 2, 2009 10:42 AM

Resigning from my job tomorrow Monday August 3, 2009. As per my contract I need to give four weeks notice but am having trouble figuring out the date of my last working day: I have profound trouble with numbers -- sometimes also described as dyscalculia -- and right now can't ask anyone else. Looking at my Outlook calendar I'm guessing my last day could be either Monday August 31 or Friday 28. Which is it?

But what if I change my mind and won't quit until Wednesday or Thursday or g-d forbid somewhere next week. Can you suggest a way for me to figure out my expiry date despite the fact that my particular flavour of this afflication is mainly characterised by an "(i)nability to grasp and remember math concepts, rules, formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts."
posted by anonymous to Science & Nature (9 answers total)
Can't you ask HR tomorrow (or whichever day you choose to resign)?
posted by Frank Grimes at 10:44 AM on August 2, 2009


If you resign Monday August 3, your last day would be Friday 28th. August 31 is four weeks from August 3, but if you're looking at a calendar, think of it as 4 work weeks. You can count the four weeks as Aug 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, and 24-28. Hope that helps.
posted by entropyiswinning at 10:46 AM on August 2, 2009


Another good way to think of this (without much use of numbers) is to figure out what is the last day you don't have to go into work, and then figure out the previous work-day. So, if you tender your resignation on Monday, you will have to work Monday-Friday four times, and you won't have go to go in the Monday after that (count down on your calendar four weeks to August 31st). The work day before Monday the 31st is Friday the 28th. Similarly, if you resign on Tuesday you wouldn't have to go in to work on Tuesday September 1st, so your last day would be Monday, August 31st.
posted by Frankieist at 11:21 AM on August 2, 2009


entropyiswinning is exactly right, assuming you don't submit your resignation until the end of the work day.

Most places show some flexibility in this, actually. In the U.S., anyway. While the company may require four-week notice, they may or may not choose to have you work those four full weeks. They have to pay you for four weeks, though, whether you stay to the very last day or they have Security escort you off the property within a few hours of resigning.
posted by DrGail at 11:23 AM on August 2, 2009


Do you have a calendar?

Put your left index finger on the day you give notice. Put your right index finger four squares down from that. Ta-da.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:47 PM on August 2, 2009


If you give notice on Monday, August 3, your last day is Friday, August 28.
If you give notice on Tuesday, Aug 4, your last day is Monday, Aug 31.
If you give notice on Wednesday, Aug 5, your last day is Tues, Sept 1.
If you give notice on Thursday, Aug 6, your last day is Wed, Sept 2.
If you give notice on Friday, Aug 7, your last day is Thurs, Sept 3.
posted by pitseleh at 1:58 PM on August 2, 2009


Sys Rq's explanation is the easiest way to figure it out. I doubt they'd make you come in on the Monday -- it depends if they mean four "work weeks" (i.e. you'd give 160 hours notice) or calendar weeks. I would imagine that if you walk in on Monday morning, you're going to count that day in the four weeks, meaning you would end your four weeks on the Friday preceding the four week mark. If they're sticklers for getting the most work out of you possible, they'll have you come in that next Monday.

Really, there is no way of knowing whether you need to come in on that last "four weeks later" day without asking. This is something that may vary from job to job.
posted by mikeh at 2:00 PM on August 2, 2009


Keep in mind that the precise last day is often subject to negotiation with the employer. As an employer, I would very often rather get the resigning employee out and away as soon as possible.
posted by yclipse at 6:03 PM on August 2, 2009


Wow. A beautful and powerful example of the hivemind at work. Thank you for having the courage to ask.
posted by Muirwylde at 6:22 PM on August 2, 2009


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