Hah, you guys reminded me of my stint as ann HVAC instructor at Technical Carreers Institute / Baran's Institute. First off, I kept a box of Midol in my podium and whenever one of those guys would start to whining away over something I used to pull the box out and offer them some.
TCI had been sold to and run into the ground by some corporation in Gulfport, Miss. They took over just prior to my being employed there. The original owner "Baran's" still owned the bldgs. Well, 14 months later,when the lease was up, the Miss. corp, having been blowing smoke and flower petals up our asses for months, ABANDONED the friggin' operation, lock stock and barrel. One Friday morning we get a message to send all our students home and meet in the cafeteria at 11:00. All 300 of us got pink slips, security guards manned the doors and we had so many minutes to clean up our stuff and get out. Those of us who were on "The List" were "allowed" to reapply for our jobs but starting all over as new employees. No benefits, no sick days, no medical insurance, etc. I was on "The List" so I foolishly applied for my job back, giving these people the benefit of the doubt. There was an article in the business section of the Hartford Courant talking all about it featuring the new boss Linda Perkins making the statement that they had made the transition and kept over 50% of the original employees. Within 6 weeks over 80% were gone. I was let go, even though I had the second highest student rating of my dept, when 6 weeks into the thing, I complained about not being paid for the day I took off to go to my stepmother's funeral. No effin' lie. I also made the mistake of asking about the medical benefits they had promised us within 30 days. She told me she had more important things to worry about than my mother's funeral. I know, I shoulda punched her right then but I guess I'm smarter than that. Anyhoo, I wasn't a "team player" immediately after that, I had a "negative attitude". Gee, ya think? Can't imagine why...
The entire student body walked out in a rage the day after they let me go. They had to call the cops to regain order.
They friggin' called me on the phone at home and asked me what I wanted them to do. I told them to just go back to class, it wasn't worth it.
I would definitely have something lined up before I ever indicated to my current employer that I was even THINKING of leaving. Offer them two weeks but be prepared to be unemployed shortly after making the offer. Each situation is different of course. They could offer you more money to stay. That's been known to happen. If they DO keep you the 2 weeks, be a model employee and leave on gracious terms.