Employee Resignation Letter

An Employee Resignation Letter informs your employer or supervisor that you’re leaving your job.

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Very few people in the world work in one job their entire adult life. Most change at least several in perhaps just as many companies.

Whenever you decide that it's time to leave your current job for another or any other reason, you'll have to submit an Employee Resignation Letter.

It's customary to inform your coworkers and supervisors in person for an even smoother transition, but of course, that is not mandatory.

What Is an Employee Resignation Letter?

An Employee Resignation Letter is usually a relatively short form outlining the employee's decision to leave the job. The letter informs the company of a vacancy that would open up and that they need to start looking for a replacement.

Unless it's a matter of emergency, quitting your job on the spot is considered highly unprofessional. Without a notice period and official letter, the employer would be left in the lurch.

Other Names for Employee Resignation Letter

Depending on your state, an Employee Resignation Letter may also be known as:

  • Resignation Letter
  • Employee Job Resignation Letter
  • Letter of Resignation
  • Resignation Form

Who Needs an Employee Resignation Letter?

An Employee Resignation Letter is something every person who intends on resigning from their job should use. Drafting such a letter professionally and courteously would make the working relationship's severance pleasant and without rancor. In many cases, your Employment Contract may require you to do just that.

Why Use 360 Legal Forms for Your Employee Resignation Letter

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Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your Employee Resignation Letter.

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All you have to do is fill out a simple questionnaire, print, and sign. No printer? No worries. You and other parties can even sign online.

How to Create an Employee Resignation Letter with 360 Legal Forms

Your Employee Resignation Letter should look polished and professional. Instead of whipping up and editing the document yourself, it would be useful to rely on a template to make the process more straightforward.

Let 360 Legal Forms help with our extensive library of attorney-vetted legal forms. The process is fast and easy. All you have to do is fill out our easy-to-understand questionnaire. Once complete, simply download your form as a PDF or Word document from your secure online account.

What Information Will I Need to Create My Employee Resignation Letter?

To create your document, please provide:

  • Company Details: The legal name of the company, location, and governing state
  • Employee Details: The legal name of the employee and the contact information
  • Date: The date when the document is to be created
  • Reason: A brief explanation of why the employee has decided to leave the company
  • Effective Date: The date when the resignation will go into effect
  • Gratitude: A short statement expressing what the resignee has appreciated about the job (optional)
  • Signature: A signature is required on the resignation letter

Employee Resignation Letter Terms

  • Resignation: The act of quitting your job
  • Termination: The act of ending a job position
  • Workforce: All who work for a company
  • Employee Handbook: A staff manual for employees outlining the values of the company and expectations
  • Employee Privacy Policy: The stated privacy rights of the employees of a company
  • Diplomatic: The quality of skillful handling sensitive matters without offense

Employee Resignation Letter Signing Requirements

After you've created your Employee Resignation Letter, the first thing to do is read it over. Revise as necessary and don't forget to sign it. Notarization is not required.

What to Do with Your Employee Resignation Letter

Having signed the Employee Resignation Letter, the next step is to have it forwarded to your supervisor or whoever relevant. They will get the letter over to HR or the person in charge of staffing, and you can expect a response from the higher-up.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference between the two is the decision maker about the job. Resignation is the act of a person relinquishing his or her position, as opposed to a termination, which is when the employer acts to end the employment arrangement. Unless it's due to misconduct or unsatisfactory job performance, the employer should give as much notice for the termination as possible.

This depends on several reasons. First, if one is specified in your contract, you'll have to honor it. If not, the matter can be determined on several grounds. The standard notice period is two weeks. But this period can be longer or shorter. It may be longer if the company must hire someone else and would ground to a halt without the resignee. Or perhaps shorter if you have to act on a job opportunity that can't wait.

While there are no rules on how to write an Employee Resignation Letter, there are some established practices that you can abide by. One, keep it as short as possible without going into too many details. It's customary to explain why you're leaving, but it keeps it in complimentary tones. Two, it's also a good practice to thank your employer and coworkers.

This will depend on the employer but in general, employers have good reason to respond to an Employee Resignation Letter. The acknowledgment creates an official paper trail for both the company and the employee. But it's more than a formality or a nice thing to do. If the employee doesn't receive a response, he or she could claim that the resignation was never accepted. The employee could also argue that it was in reality a termination and claim worker’s comp and other benefits that may have a charge on the employer.

In general, there is no reason that you shouldn't ask for references after you resign. But it would be best if your resignation is carried out in good faith. It’s always best to stay on good terms with the employer rather than burning bridges. That could mean fulfilling all your work and helping with the transition. Ultimately, the decision is on your employer as to whether somebody at the company is willing to supply the reference. Some big companies may have a corporate policy to never supply references, as it could make them liable for anything untoward that might happen as a result.
 

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Applicable to all 50 states
Applicable to all 50 states

Our documents are vetted by lawyers and are applicable to all 50 states.