Fillable Form Resignation Letter
A Resignation Letter is a formal document submitted by an employee to an employer in order to notify them of their decision to resign.
What is a Letter of Resignation?
A Letter of Resignation, also known as a Two-weeks Notice or Resignation Notice, is a letter used by employees when they wish to inform their employer that they have made the decision to resign from their job.
Having a clear and well-crafted resignation letter is important in order to properly go through all the necessary processes related to an employee’s resignation that a company or business must go through. Some companies and businesses will even have specific bonuses that will be given based on your work with them when you resign, or extra terms that need to be fulfilled before an employee can finalize their resignation letter. Professional handling of the resignation, not just through timely submission of the notice but also in writing a polite resignation letter, is crucial in not just maintaining connections, but also ensuring that separation is clean and issue-free for all parties.
How do I fill out a Letter of Resignation?
Creating the perfect resignation letter for your purposes can be challenging, especially if you're unsure of where to start.
You may find a fillable resignation letter template here. The template itself is quite short and general, so make sure to edit it further in order to properly fit your particular context whenever necessary. Sending a formal resignation letter can be done online or through mail, but make sure to check with your company's guidelines in order to ensure that your formal notice of resignation is processed as smoothly as possible.
Date
Enter the date that this letter was sent.
Company Name and Address
Enter the name of the company or business you are resigning from and their address information, consisting of the following:
You may enter more or other address information as necessary.
Salutation
Enter the last name of your immediate supervisor, HR director, or any other person that manages resignation notices within this company or business. Make sure not to abbreviate their name, and use an appropriate title as well (i.e. Mr., Ms., Mrs.).
Position
Enter the job title of the position that you are resigning from.
Company Name/Work Location
Enter the name of the company you are resigning from.
Days Until Effective
Enter the number of days before your resignation will become final. This will be considered your provided notice period.
Last Day of Employment
Enter your final day of employment based on the above number of days before your resignation.
Company Name/Thanks
Enter the name of the company you are resigning from, and make sure to respectfully express gratitude for the experience that they have provided for you through your time with them. If there are other terms or other things you wish to express, you may add them here. Make sure to use a respectful and professional tone all throughout the document.
Signature
Sign the form in the space provided, then enter your full legal name.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do people resign?
There are many different reasons for why a person might resign from their workplace. As such, there is no single answer for why people resign from their jobs. Perhaps they have been given a greater opportunity elsewhere, or they simply do not wish to work, or perhaps they are even retiring - it is best to ask a person themselves why they have made the decision to resign.
Why is a resignation letter needed?
When employees resign, oftentimes, employers must find a replacement for them. Resignation letters provide employers with advance notice before an employee leaves their employ, so that they can properly prepare and look for someone to make up for the employee that is leaving and ensure that the new employee has a smooth transition into the workplace. The transition process that a company needs to go through will also depend on who has decided to write a resignation letter - the more major the role of the employee resigning, the more important it becomes for the company to not only process the professional resignation letter but also find a replacement.
When should I send a resignation letter?
The general rule is that a resignation must be sent two weeks before the effective date of resignation. This is so that employers can have time to prepare and make up for your leaving the company.
Can a resignation be effective immediately?
Yes, though most companies will include in their employment agreements a requirement of a few weeks' advance notice. Submitting an immediate resignation letter is not technically disallowed, but most companies will set conditions for resignation letter format and submission to avoid sudden losses without being given the time to prepare or make up for the loss.
Are there benefits to resigning?
It depends on the agreement between yourself and your employer. Some employers provide benefits for employees who have just resigned, and others do not. Make sure to review your employment contract to know if you can avail of any benefits.
Can employers reject a resignation notice?
Not normally. There are specific circumstances under which an employer may reject a letter of resignation, but overall once an employee sends in their resignation notice, unless they change their mind themselves, an employer cannot do anything to stop it.
What if there are terms and conditions applied to resignation?
If such terms were included in the initial employment contract or in any other agreement you chose to sign during your time as an employee of the company, they will need to be followed before you can resign properly.
What if I'm asked to sign a non-compete agreement upon resignation?
Review the terms carefully and consider seeking legal advice if necessary. Unless the non-compete agreement was part of the employment contract, you may not actually be obligated to sign it.
Can I resign while on medical leave?
Yes, but it's advisable to consult with HR and ensure you're compliant with company policies while you do so. If you are resigning for medical reasons, make sure to add the necessary information to the resignation letter templates so that you can clearly and properly inform your company of the exact reasons for why you are resigning.
How can resignation affect my visa status or work permit?
It depends on your visa or permit type. Make sure to think carefully and understand the implications that resignation, or more specifically not being employed, might have on your visa or permit status.
What is an exit package?
An exit package is a bonus that is given to an employee when they leave the company. Generally, these are offered specifically when employees leave companies in amicable ways, such as through retirement or providing a formal resignation letter. Examples of things that such packages can include are insurance premiums, cash, stock options, and so on.
Can exit packages be negotiated?
Yes, though sometimes it may be considered impolite to do so. If negotiation is necessary, it may be best to have a legal and/or financial advisor present to help negotiations proceed smoothly.
What is a severance package?
Severance packages are similar to exit packages, but they are also often given to employees who have been let go or fired. Sometimes exit packages are also referred to as severance packages, but the key difference is simply in the contexts they are often applied in.
Can severance packages be negotiated?
Yes, and in fact they often are. However, the degree to which they can be negotiated depends on a variety of factors, such as the nature of why you were let go and the terms agreed upon in the employment contract. As with exit packages, make sure to have a legal and/or financial advisor present to help you manage these decisions and negotiations as smoothly as possible.
Should I offer to train my replacement?
It's a courteous gesture, but not always necessary. It depends on the complexity of your role and your company's needs, as well as any pre-existing agreements you may have through your employment contract.