# Resignation Letter: [Your name]

> A short, professional resignation letter that states your intention
> to resign, your notice and last working day, and an offer to help
> with the handover, plus a checklist for working out the notice period.
> Based on common employment practice, with dated UK, EU and US
> pointers. Replace every `[bracketed]` value and every line marked
> *Example*. This is a letter format, not legal advice: your notice
> period depends on your contract and the law where you work, so check
> both and ask a qualified adviser, union or advice service if unsure.

<!--
Guidance: How to use this template
- Tell your manager in person or by video first, then send the letter
  the same day, so the letter confirms a conversation rather than
  replacing it.
- Keep it brief and positive. The letter goes in your personnel file
  and may be read by future reference givers. Reasons, complaints and
  negotiations belong in separate conversations.
- Work out the notice dates with the checklist in section 2 before you
  write the date of your last day.
- Related templates: Job Offer Comparison (`career/offer-comparison`),
  Salary Negotiation Plan (`career/salary-negotiation-plan`), 90-Day
  Plan (`career/ninety-day-plan`) for the new role, Reference Letter
  (`career/reference-letter`).
-->

## 1. Letter

[Your name]
[Your address or work email]

[Date: YYYY-MM-DD]

[Manager's name]
[Job title]
[Organisation]

Dear [Manager's name],

Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my
role as [job title] at [organisation]. In line with my [contractual
notice period of N weeks / months], my last working day will be
[YYYY-MM-DD].

I am grateful for the opportunities I have had here, in particular
[one specific, sincere example]. I will do everything I can to make the
handover smooth, including [documenting my current work, handing over
to a named colleague, finishing a specific task before I leave].

Please let me know about the next steps, including any holiday balance,
the return of equipment and my final pay.

Kind regards,

[Your name]

*Example (fictional):* Elena Marsh resigns as Operations Coordinator
at Quillmont Freight on Monday 2026-11-02 with a contractual notice period
of four weeks. Her notice runs from the following day (Tuesday
2026-11-03), so her last working day is Monday 2026-11-30. She offers to
document the carrier booking process and to train her successor during
her final two weeks.

## 2. Notice period checklist

<!-- Guidance: General information as of October 2026, not legal advice. Check your own contract, collective agreement and the current official guidance where you work. -->

- [ ] Contract: what notice does your employment contract or collective
  agreement require, and must it be in writing?
- [ ] Holiday: will unused holiday be paid out, or can it be taken
  during notice? Ask in writing.
- [ ] Restrictions: does your contract contain garden leave,
  non-compete, non-solicitation or confidentiality clauses that apply
  after you leave?
- [ ] Repayments: do training costs, a sign-on bonus or relocation
  support have to be repaid if you leave within a set time?
- [ ] Probation: shorter notice often applies during a probation period;
  check the contract.

Dated pointers:

- **UK:** GOV.UK says an employee must give at least one week's notice
  after more than one month in the job, unless the contract requires
  more; notice usually runs from the day after you hand it in, and
  written notice is advisable if you may need to rely on it later:
  https://www.gov.uk/handing-in-your-notice/giving-notice
- **EU:** notice rules are set by each Member State's law and by
  collective agreements, and vary widely. Check the national labour
  ministry or an official advice service.
- **US:** most employment is "at will" and no federal law requires an
  employee to give notice, though two weeks is a common courtesy and
  your contract or employer policy may set terms (for example, on
  payout of unused leave). State law varies; check the state labour
  department.

## 3. Before you send

- [ ] Signed new offer and any background checks complete
- [ ] Dates in the letter match the notice calculation
- [ ] Copy of the letter and the sent date kept for your records
- [ ] Personal files removed from work devices, and work files left
  where your employer can find them

## Standard and licence note

Based on common employment practice for resignation letters, with the
UK GOV.UK notice guidance checked on 2026-10-30 as a dated example.
Not legal advice: check your contract and the current official
guidance where you work. Original text written for this collection;
people and organisations are fictional. Template licence: MIT.