How to Quit a Job Under Contract
Quitting a job while you are under contract with that company can be a sticky situation. Employers require prospective employees to sign a contract to ensure that the work they are doing is finished or to maintain stability. Most school districts, for example, require teachers to sign a contract to ensure that they are the only teacher for a certain group of children during an entire academic school year. Make sure that you get out alive without suffering any long-term consequences (i.e. a bad reference from the employer or worse).
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Instructions
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How to Quit a Job Under Contract
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Have another job first. Do not quit a job without first having a back-up plan. This may include a job offer with another company, six months worth of savings or income from another source, such as a spouse or part-time job. Quitting a job, under contract or not, is not usually a smart move if you don't have any other sources of income.
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Talk with the human resources department. This is the first step towards quitting your job. Prepare a formal letter of resignation and highlight the reasons why you are leaving your position. Many HR departments will be more willing to help you if you have good intentions behind why you are leaving your position. Additionally, if it is a personnel issue, they may recommend a transfer or a different position in the company instead of leaving the company entirely.
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Scan through the contract. This may be best done with a lawyer. Look for consequences of terminating a contract early and what can be done to ensure that you don't put yourself into legal hot water. It is possible to quit a job under contract if you are ready to accept any financial or legal obligations. Make sure you understand the entirety of the contract.
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Be prepared to pay a penalty. Some companies will require you to buy out your contract and may withhold any severance, benefits or future salary once you have quit a job that is under contract. Make sure you can afford to pay this penalty or go without certain benefits once you have left your job.
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Don't burn bridges. For whatever reason you are leaving your job, it's important to act professionally as best you can. Do not make a scene or tell anyone anything that may tarnish your reputation as an employee in future positions. Give as much notice as possible and only give as much information as is absolutely necessary.
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