Resignation is the process of an employee ending their employment contract. You might also call it 'resigning', 'quitting your job', or 'handing in your notice'.
What to consider before resigning
If you're considering resigning because of a problem at work, remember that you might be able to resolve it in a different way.
You should also consider the effect on your income if you resign.
Dealing with problems at work
If you have a problem at work, you can raise it with your employer. It's usually best to raise the problem informally first.
If you cannot address it informally, you can raise a grievance. This is where you make a formal complaint to your employer.
Find out how to raise a problem at work
Effect on your income
Your income will be affected by resigning.
You should check your employment contract to understand any changes that could also apply to your final pay. Your final pay might be different to your usual weekly or monthly pay because of things like:
- how much holiday you've taken
- money deducted for training courses
If you resign without having another job to go to, it could affect your entitlement to benefits or other financial support.
You can find out more about:
- final pay when someone leaves a job
- calculators to help work out benefits you're entitled to on GOV.UK
Resigning during redundancy, lay-off or a TUPE transfer
Your pay and other rights could be affected if you resign during any of the following circumstances:
- you've been told your job is at risk of redundancy or that it will become redundant
- you've been laid off (sent home temporarily) or placed on short-time working (had your working hours reduced because not enough work is available)
- a TUPE transfer is taking place
Contact the Acas helpline if you need more advice.
You can also speak to your trade union representative, if you're a member.
How to resign
Your employer might have a resignation process they want you to follow. Check your contract to find out. If it's not in your contract, you could ask your manager or HR department.
An employer cannot reject your resignation. However, you should always follow the right process so that you’re not in breach of your contract.
You should talk to your employer about how and when other people are told about your resignation. For example, whether it’ll be you or your manager who tells them.
Telling your employer in writing
To have a record that you're resigning, it's helpful to:
- put things in writing – for example, in a letter or email
- keep a copy of it
Write to your manager or HR department unless you have been told to write to someone else.
Tell them:
- you're resigning
- how much notice you're giving
- what date you want to be your last day at work
You can use our resignation letter template.
If you want a record you've told your employer, you could:
- ask them to confirm in writing they've received your resignation
- send a resignation letter by recorded delivery
Notice period when resigning
Your 'notice period' is how long you remain employed by your employer after you've told them you're resigning.
Your written statement of employment particulars must say how much notice you must give. All employees must receive a written statement.
If you've been employed for less than 1 month, you do not need to give any notice unless your written statement says otherwise.
If you've been employed for 1 month or more, you need to give at least 1 week's notice even if you've not been provided with a written statement.
Find out more about notice periods
Circumstances in which you may not need to give your full notice
In your resignation letter you should explain clearly your reasons for leaving.
If there's been a serious breach of contract, you might want to leave your job straight away instead of working your notice period. Doing this could be a breach of your employment contract, but it can be justified sometimes.
If you believe you must resign because your employer has seriously breached your employment contract, you might be able to claim constructive dismissal.
Breach of contract and constructive dismissal can be complex areas of the law. Contact the Acas helpline if you have any questions.
Asking to leave before your notice period ends
If you want to leave work before your notice period ends, you could ask your employer whether you can:
- leave without working all your notice – you'd usually only get paid for the period you work, unless you and your employer came to an alternative arrangement such as taking holiday you've 'accrued' (built up)
- take payment instead of working your notice – sometimes known as 'payment in lieu of notice' or PILON
Your employer does not have to agree to your request.
If you do not reach an agreement and do not work the appropriate notice, it might affect your final pay or references for future jobs.
Find out more about when you're not required to work your notice
Changes during or after your notice period
Check your employment contract to see whether there could be terms restricting your actions during or after your notice period. These terms are known as 'restrictive covenants'.
For example, your contract might state you cannot access sensitive business information during your notice period, to prevent competitors from accessing it.
If you've changed your mind about resigning
If you change your mind about resigning, tell your employer straight away.
Your employer does not have to accept your request to withdraw your resignation. However, they should give it serious consideration, especially if:
- you very quickly changed your mind about resigning
- when it happened your state of mind was affected by another factor, like a health condition or bereavement
Responding to an employee's resignation
As an employer, you do not have to respond formally when someone tells you they're resigning but it's good practice to respond in writing.
Your response should include:
- that you've received the employee's resignation
- their last day of work
- what their final pay will be, including holiday pay and any deductions
- anything you expect from them before they leave
If you also discuss these points with the employee, it's likely to help you both avoid misunderstandings or disputes.
You can use our resignation acceptance letter template.
If an employee asks to withdraw their resignation
Remember that an employee might not genuinely want to resign. For example, they might have made a sudden decision because their state of mind was affected by another factor, like a health condition or bereavement.
If they tell you they want to withdraw their resignation, you should:
- be as understanding and flexible as possible
- offer an informal chat to talk things through if they want to
Arranging an exit interview
Arranging an exit interview can be useful to understand why the employee is leaving. Their reasons can help inform how you recruit or retain staff.
For example, if you find that employees regularly leave because the job is not what they expected, you could update future job adverts to be clearer about the role and responsibilities.
Exit interviews can also help to:
- find out if the employee left because they felt excluded or held back in some way
- deal with outstanding matters like handing over work
- give you useful feedback on what you could change in the future