Do I have to give my boss 2 months notice if I find a new job?

Boss probably got worried that I am considering leaving because we had a few (good) employees resign last summer (one in July, one in Aug, and one in Sept). I know at-will means they can fire me and I can leave at anytime, but I always managed to give 2 weeks for past jobs, with no complaints from any old bosses. One day out of the blue he requested that I give him 2 months of notice if I accept another job. In my field, new employers typically want you to start as soon as possible so I doubt any new job would wait 2 months for me. My boss probably thought that he could lock me in my current job if I actually complied and gave him 2 months, but can he do anything if I do not? I did not sign any agreement about giving such a long period of notice, and even my HR department thinks 2 months is ridiculous.
Answers

Anonymous

He can ask, he can't force to give 2 months notice. You could tell your boss as you are walking out the door that you quit and won't be in the next day. It's poor manners but even 2 weeks notice is strictly a matter of courtesy, not law.

real estate guy

Unless you have an employment contract with them that states 2 months notice. However, even then, it's very hard to enforce this. Actually you don't even have to give notice. 2 weeks is the "normal" time frame.

RICK

No 2 weeks is the normal but you are not required to give any

Slumlord

No and if you give him 2 months notice he may just decide halfway thru the notice to lay you off. Just give 2 weeks, he'll live.

Judy

He can ask for whatever he wants to, doesn't mean you have to do it. He knows that is ridiculous. Legally, it's at-will so he COULD fire you, but he's not that stupid.

Anonymous

Giving notice is just a courteous thing to do, your boss is just in a desperate situation but is not legally about to keep you hostage like that. Just turn in your 2 weeks and be gone.

Katie

YES - if you want to get paid you MUST give the notice that the manager/company asks for and work EVERY SECOND of it.

babyboomer1001

No, he cannot hold you to the two months' notice. When your new employer wants you to start, just tell the old "fart" that you were told that you need to start on X date so, you can't give him two months' notice and that if they didn't want you that soon, you would be happy to stay longer but, it just didn't work out.

John

2 weeks is ample