Valeby ResumeGuru
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Two weeks' notice letter

In the US, two weeks' notice is the usual way to resign. The letter is short: that you are resigning, your last day, and an offer to help with the handover.

  • Two weeks runs from the day after you give notice. Give it on a Friday and your last day is the Friday two weeks later.
  • Most US jobs are at will. Two weeks is a courtesy, not a legal duty, unless a contract or union agreement sets your notice.
  • Your employer can accept your notice and end your job sooner. Plan for that before you hand it in.

Sets the letter format: India uses “To, The HR Manager” and a subject line, the UK and US do not.

About you

The last line of the address block.

Who it is addressed to

With no name, the letter is addressed to Human Resources and opens “Dear Sir or Madam”.

Notice and your last working day

Usually the day you hand it in. Your notice is counted from this date.

Notice period in your contract

Not sure? The letter states no date and asks your employer to confirm your last working day.

Only if you have already agreed a date, or brought one from the notice period calculator. It replaces the notice period.

Reason and tone

Changes the handover paragraph.

Tone
Add to the letter

Your letter

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Preparing your local date…

Free, and there is no account. The letter is written in this browser from what you type, and it is sent nowhere.

Example

Two weeks' notice letter: a worked example.

Written by the generator above from the details in the caption.

A two weeks' notice letter handed in on a Friday.
November 6, 2026

Ms. Dana Whitfield
Director of Customer Success
Harborview Software
Denver, CO

Dear Ms. Whitfield,

Please accept this letter as my two weeks' notice of resignation from my position as Customer Success Manager at Harborview Software. I propose Friday, November 20, 2026 as my last day of work, subject to confirmation.

I have accepted an offer for a new role.

Before my last day, I will hand over my ongoing work, files and contacts. Please let me know who will take over my work, so that we can plan the handover.

Thank you for the opportunities I have had at Harborview Software and for the support of the team during my time here.

Please let me know what to expect for my final paycheck and any unused paid time off.

I wish Harborview Software continued success.

Sincerely,
Taylor Brooks
Customer Success Manager

Counting the two weeks

Two weeks is 14 calendar days, or 10 working days, from the day after you give notice. Notice given on Friday, November 6, 2026 ends on Friday, November 20, 2026.

Employers do not all count it the same way. For notice given on Monday, November 9, 2026, 14 days from the next day ends on Monday, November 23, 2026. Some employers count the day you hand it in as the first day, and then the two weeks end on the Friday of the following week, Friday, November 20, 2026. Ask HR which way yours counts; the generator does either.

What to put in it

  • The words "two weeks' notice", so nobody has to work out what kind of letter it is.
  • Your last day with its weekday and date, written month first: Friday, November 20, 2026.
  • One line on the handover: what you will finish and what you will document.
  • One line of thanks. Nothing about pay, your manager or the new job's details.
  • A question about your final paycheck and unused paid time off, if you want it in writing.

When two weeks is not the right amount

A contract, a union agreement or a public-sector job can set a different notice period, and that period applies instead. Teachers on a school-year contract usually have their own rules, covered on the teacher letter page.

Senior staff often give more than two weeks so that a handover can finish. Offering three or four weeks costs little and is remembered.

Final pay and paid time off

Federal law does not require your employer to give you your final paycheck at once, but some states do. Whether unused paid time off is paid out depends on your state and your employer's policy. Asking in the letter gives you a written answer.

Sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Your contract and your employer’s policy decide your notice.

More letters

Related resignation letters.

Each one opens the generator set up for that case.

Questions

Common questions.

Is two weeks' notice required by law?
Usually not. Every state except Montana allows at-will employment, so either side can end the job at any time for a lawful reason. A contract or union agreement can set a notice period, and then that applies.
Can my employer end my job after I give two weeks' notice?
Yes, in an at-will job your employer can accept your resignation and make it effective at once. Some employers pay the two weeks anyway, but they do not have to unless a contract or policy says so.
Do weekends count in two weeks' notice?
Yes. Two weeks is 14 calendar days, which is 10 working days for a Monday to Friday job. The generator counts it for you and flags a last day that falls on a weekend.
Can I give two weeks' notice by email?
Yes. Email is normal now. Use a subject line such as "Two weeks' notice: your name, your job title", and tell your manager in person or on a call first if you can.

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