So your side project has become a fully fledged small business. 1st of all congratulations, now let’s talk about your day job. When it’s time to resign, give notice or quit to focus on your small business. Let’s look at how to resign, what a resignation letter should contain and we will even show you some resignation letter templates.
Table of Contents
Before we really begin going into this, you may find it helpful to reread your employment contract so you can check for
- Notice period (UK law states 1 week minimum unless otherwise stated in employment contract)
- Training Cost Repayment – Some employers may stipulate that if you leave then you have to pay back any costs associated with training. NO, to some it up quickly, if your training costs £2000 and you quit the day after it’s completed then yes, if you leave 3 years after its completed then no. You can read more on this at https://www.pureemploymentlaw.co.uk/repayment-of-training-costs-is-it-legal/
- Any other weirdness
- Remember your company can’t ask you to sign away your statutory rights.
What should your resignation letter contain?
Just because our small business is taking off we still need to keep it professional. You never know when you might need to see these people again, maybe they will call you for work, maybe they will contract you for work.
Your resignation letter should clearly contain your intentions
- Notice period – as defined in your contract
- Last day – dictated by your notice period
- Clearly state your leaving, no wishy washy language.
- Reasons for leaving – be honest, but not too honest if you hate your job or manager
- Express gratitude – it may sound cliche but this company has helped you pay your bills for the last few years, and provided some experience and training.
- State your job title and company – as this is a formal document, be as clear as you can be, spell out who you are, what you do and who you work for.
Optional extras to include in your resignation letter
- Holiday Pay – ask if you are owed any holiday and how it will be calculated. UK law states you are owed any holiday pay not taken before you leave.
- Example: if you leave half way through the year, taking no holiday then you should be paid your final salary plus half your holiday.
Time frame to deal with pay issues relating to resigning
If you have issues with your now ex employer paying holiday, salary or anything else you might be owed you only have 3 months minus one day from when you should have been paid. Check and double check hours worked, bonuses, overtime and holiday have been paid in full before it’s too late to claim.
Talk to citizens advice if you feel your having issues.
When does your notice period start
This works both ways, if you’re resigning or being made redundant. Your notice period starts the day after a letter is received, this gives the person receiving it a chance to read.
This is the same for post and email, assume your notice period starts the day after you hand in your notice
Resignation Letter Template
We have added all our above know how into a simple and easy to use resignation letter template. Edit and change anything you need, its a template after all.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
[Manager’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Address]
Dear [Manager’s Name],
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as [Your Position] at [Company Name]. My last day of work will be [Date], providing a notice period of [Length of Notice Period] weeks.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunities and experiences that I have had while working with [Company Name]. I am grateful for the support and guidance provided by my colleagues and managers, and I appreciate the valuable skills and knowledge that I have gained during my time here.
I have made the decision to resign in order to pursue new opportunities and challenges. I am confident that the skills and experiences that I have gained at [Company Name] will be beneficial to me in my future endeavours.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help make this transition as smooth as possible. I am committed to ensuring a seamless handover of my responsibilities, and I am available to assist in any way necessary.
Thank you for your understanding and support during this time of transition. I wish you and the team all the best in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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