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March 1, 2023
Are you thinking of resigning from your job? If so, then you’ll need to write a resignation letter. This will inform your employer that you no longer wish to work for the company and initiate the first steps in terminating your employment.
In this blog post, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide for writing a resignation letter that will make the process go smoothly. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what to include in your letter and how to phrase it in a professional way.
A resignation letter is a formal document that lets your employer know that you no longer wish to continue working in your role. You might be resigning from your role entirely, or you might be resigning from a specific part of your role.
For example, if you’ve been given a second role within the company and you no longer wish to fulfil this role, you will need to be clear that you are resigning from this specific role and not your whole job.
An example of this would be a teacher who has also been assigned the role of “head of year”. They might wish to continue being a teacher, but resign from the additional responsibility of being head of year.
If you are leaving your job, then it is always best practice to provide a written resignation letter. If you have a contract of employment, you will need to formally resign from your job. Even if you make your intentions known verbally, many companies will require written confirmation for their HR files.
If you don’t have a contract of employment, you may not need to submit a formal letter of resignation. However, there are benefits to doing so. If you walk out without notice, this could damage your relationship and reputation.
Giving the company advance notice as if you are a full-time and contracted employee will give them time to find a replacement and you can leave the role on better terms. You can also make sure that there is no confusion regarding when your employment will end.
Freelance workers typically don’t need to resign, but it is good business practice to inform clients of your intentions. You might rely on them for work in the future, and you might lose out on referrals if you don’t inform them of your intentions.
Your resignation letter should include the following information:
Once you have decided it’s time to resign, then it’s important that you follow these steps when writing the letter:
It’s tempting to air out your grievances, but try to keep your resignation letter brief. A resignation letter is not the right place to voice your concerns or complaints as this could damage your relationship with your employer, which may also affect any reference you might need in the future.
If you do have a grievance that needs to be addressed, it’s better to raise this issue during an exit interview or via other channels. If you feel that there has been unfair treatment, then look into what rights and procedures are available to you before making any decisions.
It’s important to remember that resigning from a role can be stressful and emotional, so ensure that you take time to think it through before submitting your letter of resignation.
Once you have resigned, make sure that you leave on good terms with your employer. By offering to assist in hiring and training your replacement, you can strengthen your relationship and make sure they offer a good reference in the future.
If you are leaving because you believe you have been bullied or the victim of discrimination, always confirm with a legal professional before you hand over your resignation letter. The information you put in your resignation letter could impact the outcome of any employment tribunal, so you want to be confident that you aren’t saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
In addition to this, make sure that you are aware of any contractual obligations that you may have. This could include providing a period of notice, or returning company property (e.g. keys, laptops). Ensure that all these obligations have been fulfilled before submitting your resignation letter.
Finally, if your employer has agreed to provide you with a reference letter or other forms of support after leaving the role, ensure that this is included in writing in the resignation letter for best legal protection.
It’s important to keep professional and leave on good terms with your current employer when resigning from a role – no matter what your reasons may be.
Taking the time to write a formal resignation letter will help ensure you leave the job on the best possible terms and help to improve your reputation within the company. Even if you don’t see eye to eye with their management choices, you can still leave in a civil manner.
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