What Is the Ethical Way to Resign From a Job?

Resign from your job with dignity and professionalism.

Resigning from a job you love can be difficult. However, it can also be difficult to exit from your position in an ethical manner if you absolutely loathe your work. Demonstrate positive business principles in your decision to resign and carry through that positive and ethical attitude from the day you decide to leave until the day you actually leave the company.

Instructions

1. Determine the best timing for your resignation. Look at your current workload and the calendar to calculate how long it will take you to complete your work assignments. Alternatively, bring your work assignments to a point where you can easily hand off your responsibilities to a colleague or a new employee hired to replace you.

2. Work diligently to perform your best during the final stages of your employment. Avoid leaving your job with unfinished projects or poor performance that can tarnish your reputation for being a competent and efficient worker.

3. Draft a brief resignation letter. Based on your reason for leaving, you might want to include a sentence about how much you've enjoyed working for the company or how your position with the organization prepared you to take on the new challenges of your new job. A good start to a succinct resignation letter is: "This letter is written notice of resignation from my position as Marketing Director." Indicate the date on which your resignation is effective; two-week notice is customary. If you're working under an employment contract, you must adhere to the terms and conditions of terminating your contract. Many employment agreements require 30-day advance notice of termination.

4. Ask your supervisor for a few moments to meet with her privately. Present your resignation letter to her and, if you have enjoyed a long working relationship with her or the company, explain the reason you're leaving. If you haven't enjoyed the most positive working relationship, don't turn this meeting into a gripe session. Remember the adage, "If you don't have something nice to say, say nothing at all," if you or your boss welcome your departure.

5. Refrain from spending too much time talking to coworkers about your new job. Make your departure as quiet as possible; discussing your new career path with others can come off as if you're bragging about your ability to find a better job elsewhere. Other employees might be unhappy in their jobs -- don't make your coworkers feel worse about staying in their present jobs.

6. Create a summary of your job duties and where you stand on work assignments as of your resignation date, or before if necessary. Give your supervisor a copy of the summary -- it will be especially helpful when hiring a replacement employee or asking a current employee to step in and do your job until the company recruits someone to fill the position you left. Retain a copy of the summary for your personal files.

References

• Ask the Headhunter: Resign Yourself to Resigning Right
• All Health Care: Resign from a Health Care Job Gracefully
• Harvard Business Review: How to Quit Your Job with Style

Resources

• The Washington Post: Discuss Past Employer Ethics Carefully