How to properly give your resignation to your employer without burning bridges as a work from home employee
You’ve found a great new opportunity and it’s time to resign. You may be hesitant to return to the office and you’ve found a permanent work from home position. Perhaps you’ve got a new job that offers greater flexibility for your family’s schedule. Regardless, submitting your resignation when working remotely presents challenges especially if you and your boss live and work in multiple locations spanning multiple time zones.
Your boss may actually be THE reason you are leaving your current organization. As tempting as it may be to send an e-mail with the subject “I Quit” to your boss, think twice. The following steps will help you resign properly and prevent you from burning bridges with your soon-to-be former employer.
Set a 15-minute calendar invite
Look for time on your boss’ calendar and schedule a 15-minute meeting. Calendar apps tend to default to a 30-minute meeting format and scheduling a specific, 15-minute meeting communicates the following:
- We need to talk
- It won’t take a lot of your time
- It’s important enough that warrants time out of your day
Your boss may not notice or read further into the subtlety of the 15-minute meeting. However, setting a meeting gives you a dedicated time slot to chat with your manager. 15 minutes is short enough where the meeting isn’t expected to drag on but your situation may vary. Depending on the shock factor, you may go over your scheduled time to face more questions depending on how much further probing and questioning you may have to live through.
As a remote employee, set a virtual call with video call functionality. You can communicate the news face-to-face with your boss as you would if you were in an in-office setting.
Prepare your resignation letter
Once you have formally notified your employer, formalize your resignation by putting it in writing. There are many great resignation letter templates on the internet and this article highlights great examples of resignation letters. Your letter does not have to be a blistering manifesto, keep it short, sweet and highlight these key points:
- Communicate your intent to resign and list the effective date of resignation. The generally accepted rule is to provide at least two weeks notice, but your situation may vary.
- Thank your boss and employer. As painful as this may be, you have the better opportunity and you are the one leaving them.
- Highlight the ways you will support your current employer before the big day. This demonstrates your continued commitment to the organization until your last day.
Carefully craft your talking points
Once you’ve got the resignation letter completed, think about how you’d like the conversation to go with your boss. Preparation for any negotiation or crucial conversation is key. Like your resignation letter, keep it short and sweet. Remember, you booked this meeting for 15 minutes so cut to the chase and follow this format:
- Inform: tell your boss clearly that you intend to resign your position and when your last planned work day will be with them.
- Thank them: take the time during the call to show your appreciation. If you have had a difficult working relationship with your boss, focus on the positives. It was not all bad. Highlight the great teams, colleagues, former mentors or past projects and achievements that you cherish.
- Communicate your transition plan: let them know your key projects and how you can support them prior to your departure. This will help your organization plan for your departure and will help to minimize disruptions after you leave.
Your resignation letter covers many of your talking points and helps to communicate your news and how you plan to exit gracefully.
You may want to prepare yourself for follow up questions that your boss may ask you. The news may come as a shock in some situations or may result in anger. As challenging as it may be, remain calm and stick to the script.
If you want to use this as a way to negotiate higher pay or a promotion, take this time to craft your ask if management wants to retain you. For additional reading, the following article provides a great overview of tips to negotiating and countering a job offer.
Clearly communicate your resignation at the start of your meeting
It’s time. You’ve prepared well for this and have anticipated follow up questions from your boss. Start the call and turn on your camera. Clearly communicate to your boss that you are leaving the company and the date of your last planned work day. Thank them for the time and highlight the positive aspects of your employment with the organization.
Remain calm and keep the scope of the conversation focused on your departure, your end date and your commitment to the business during the transition.
If you want to use this opportunity to negotiate a promotion or higher pay, communicate what you saw in this new company that is compelling you to leave.
Is it higher pay or a higher bonus? Is it less compensation and more vacation time or perhaps a work from home forever management philosophy? This is your opportunity to reopen negotiations with your current company. Ask for the world. Shoot for the moon. This is your chance. Just be prepared for them to thank you and accept your resignation without a counter.
Discuss timelines and milestones to prepare for your departure
Reaffirm your commitment to the company until your end date. Ask your boss which of your teammates should be cross-trained or brought up to speed with your current projects. Your boss may have thoughts how to distribute your responsibilities or how to manage the communication to the team. Give your manager the opportunity to manage the process.
Set a follow up meeting with your boss and ask if other teammates and colleagues should be included. Schedule that call within three days of your end date to provide enough time for follow up questions. This planned time will help you download with the team on status updates and help prioritize actions after you are gone.
End the call
Thank your boss to properly finish the call. Breathe a sigh of relief. You did it. Regardless if your employment was positive or negative, you’ve given your employer proper notification and time to prepare for your departure. Close out these last few weeks with your head held high and onward and upward to the next big thing.
Formalize your resignation by sending your resignation letter to your boss
Hit send on that draft e-mail. Your boss will likely forward your resignation letter to HR and to their boss or supervisor. Take the high road and focus on the key elements: inform them, thank them and communicate the transition plan to them. There’s no reason to dwell on the past.
Fulfill your commitments and take the high road
According to a 2018 CareerBuilder.com research, approximately 39% of employers plan to hire back former employees. You may be one of those former employees looking to return in the future. Improve your chances and avoid burning bridges. Leave a positive, lasting impression with all your former employers by helping them during your transition period.
Create a list of open projects and opportunities and help prioritize the project list for employers. Be specific as to when the last action took place and when the client expects additional follow up.
Upload files and folders into a shared drive that your boss and teammates can easily access. This allows for your files to be found easily after you are gone.
As a work from home employee, carefully package and ship all your company-supplied hardware back to the organization. Pay extra for the shipping insurance and the tracking and delivery features. Your company may cover the added expenses and may protect you from disputes or the delivery confirmation.
In conclusion
While there are challenges with resigning as a remote employee, the steps listed above will ensure an orderly transition. It is vital to have a proper conversation, formally communicate your resignation and live up to your work commitments is important. Your employer will appreciate your professionalism and help throughout the transition period and you can look back knowing you left the organization in a respectful and dignified way.
