Resignation etiquette

74jax

TELLIT01 said:

It was great when I handed in my notice from my first job.  The business owner's response was "I suppose you want a payrise" as the only way anybody did get more money was by handing in their notice.  He was a little taken aback by my response of "No.  I want to work for somebody with human feelings".

The background was a number of incidents in the 3 1/2 years I was there.

Just a few examples -

He came back from holiday in France and said his 5 year old son had wandered off on the beach and his wife was frantic, telling him to look for the child.  He said his response was that the kid had got himself lost, he could get himself found again.

My brother was in a car crash and we were told he was unlikely to survive.  I called him to let him know and his only reaction was to ask when I would be in.  He called me a couple of hours later to see if he could bring my work round to me.  When I said no his reply was "Why not? He's only your bloody brother". 

Finally.  His secretary, a girl of 19, phoned to say her father had been diagnosed with cancer and told he only had days to live.  She then phoned again a couple of days later to say he had died.  I was in his office at the time and he asked when she would be back in - no preamble or sympathy.  I didn't hear her reply but I did his - "Why not?  He's bloody dead so there's nothing more you can do".

The absolute final straw for me, was last year when Mam died.  A few days before she finally died (in hospital with Covid and it was new - April - so no-one really knew a lot about it then) I had a colleague message me saying sorry she had passed.  I replied saying no she hadn't yet, but close and thanks for the message.... apparently my boss had told a few people she had as it was 'taking too long and he thought she would have by then'......
When she did finally die (it was during the first lockdown when the morgue was sadly full and zero people could attend funerals so we had nothing and just had to have her laid in the ground rather than wait in a funeral directors morgue) just over a week after I had my bereavement leave my boss was on the phone trying to get me to work even later (already done maybe 2hrs extra that day) due to a deadline moved.  I remember saying 'look my mam has just died, I am doing the best I can, but I can't do this tonight', his reply was 'she died a week ago, she's buried now, you have to get on with it'.  He screamed it that loud at me, my husband heard.  He told me to put the phone down, type the resignation and send it.  It was around 7.30pm that evening, I sent it and we went into the garden for a bbq and a drink and I sware from the moment I sent that email, I never looked back. 
When you do finally hand your notice in OP, you will see things you had seen previously but made excuses for, behaviour you put up with because it was infrequent and you will question why on earth you did what you did.
You then decide you'll never let anyone treat you that way again and my God it's the best feeling ever, being free from a toxic environment.  

TBagpuss

There was a fantastic thread a few years ago on an American site called 'Ask A Manager'  where someone wrote in about a co-worker in a supermarket who resigned using the medium of fish...

https://twitter.com/AskAManager/status/1083496872130633728/photo/1 

Ditzy_Mitzy

TWIGLET1234 said:

GHolmesAdmin said:

Personally I think resignation letters should be short and sweet, you really don't have to give a reason or justify yourself.  

Do we think "See ya f++kers" is enough?...haha

I prefer 'see you in Hell', it's far more professional thus gives a better impression.  

CJRyder

Short and sweet personally. When I gave my notice at my pandemic job, I just thanked them for the opportunity and wished the company good health, along with the date of my final shift.

TWIGLET1234

amandacat said:

Love reading these replies! I am desperate to change jobs but after 10 years with my employer, I fear the unknown (despite knowing I have to leave as the culture is appalling and it has affected my mental health)
Really hope I get the courage to take another job and finally leave for good!! and hopefully look back at the decision with a smile.
Still the prospect scares the life out of me. 

I absolutely know what you are talking about. The fear of the unknown gets me too every so often. 15 years of a secure and good income and a job I know like the back of my hand. I also get the guilt twinges when my boss is being pleasant to me. A third of my life I have worked for this company. However, I just remind myself that as well as fearful, I can also try and be excited about the future and what it might bring. I'm not too old to start something new. My kids are not small anymore and don't rely on me for school run etc, so I am not constrained at all. My next career step is entirely in my hands and will probably be something as simple as walking peoples dogs,  No deadlines, stress, anxiety, nasty office politics and constant phone calls. Best wishes to you. It will all turn out for the best.

ian16527

This was my last resignation.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to inform you of my intention to leave the company on (date).
Yours Faithfully

Straight to the point is always best. Leave the emotion out then if you need a reference you haven't burnt any bridges.
If done by email, attach a signed letter as some companies prefer this.