Steve,
there is no absolute answer to your question as we do not know all the variable
in your particular case, does your supervisor breathe fire, is related to Atila
the Hun etc.
I think that there are some general points that may be relevant.

The major concern here is what is best for you and your career?

It is always best if you can give as much notice as possible as it is a major
effort to advertise and get someone in to take over the work.

It is always best if you can leave on good terms, although this may not always
be possible.

Vacation that is due to you is generally paid at the time of termination of your
employment. It is possible to discuss this with your employer and come to an
agreement. In most cases however, unless there is a great need for you to use
rocket propelled skates to exit the building,  you should work the 3 weeks and
accept pay for any vacation due to you.

You should have been given an orientation when you started to acquaint you with
the general policies of your employer and have items such as sick leave,
vacation, termination of employment etc.  in writing. I would suggest doing this
at your next place of employment.

It is unprofessional for your supervisor to tell you that you are unprofessional
in giving 3 weeks notice although they may have been really ticked off. A better
approach (hindsight is always 100%) would have been to say that they were
disappointed that you were leaving and would it be possible for you to give
longer notice so that they might find a suitable replacement.
My opinions.
Barry


"Coulter, Diane" wrote:

> The accepted norm for notice (at least here in N.E.) is equal to vacation
> time).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CrochiereSteve@aol.com [mailto:CrochiereSteve@aol.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 9:12 AM
> To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: resignation notice?
>
> Here's a non-histo question. I recently gave my employer a 3 week notice
> that I have accepted a better job offer in a hospital. He then pitched a fit
> and called me unprofessional for giving such a short notice. I've only
> worked at this research lab for 3 years and have 2 wks vacation. I assumed
> that the norm was to give notice equivalent to ones vacation time. Does this
> seem "unprofessional" to anyone besides my employer?
>
> s