Joining the Great Resignation? The Dos and Don’ts Before Resigning

Throughout this pandemic, the words "Great Resignation" have loomed over various industries worldwide. In Singapore, over 49% of the workforce are considering leaving their employer in 2021, per Microsoft's Work Trend Index report.

Like many in the global workforce, many Singaporeans felt overworked and exhausted in their hybrid work setups. Others have simply changed priorities and want to look elsewhere for opportunities.

Whatever your reason to leave, make sure that you're resigning gracefully to avoid burning any bridges. In today's virtual workplace, it's all the more important to reach out to your colleagues and inform them properly. Check out our resignation checklist below for tips on what to do before quitting your job.

Resignation in the Era of COVID-19

Just as job seekers are looking for work online, employees looking for a change in their career are bound to do so virtually. But unlike job seekers who are meeting new people, those resigning are leaving behind people they've worked with for a certain amount of time.

If not carried out properly, resigning from a remote job might feel anticlimactic. Because everyone's online, some resignations just get announced through email and are over with the click of a mouse. When before, your colleagues would throw you a farewell party or have a round of goodbye drinks, today you'll be lucky to have a goodbye chat message, if at all.

Associate Professor of Management at Texas A&M's Mays Business School Anthony Klotz emphasises the importance of proper offboarding to a company's culture. "Offboarding and onboarding are two separate processes that should be separated by a period in the middle where the employee digests and closes one chapter, and then gets psychologically prepared to open the next."

Unceremonious exits are a sign that companies adopted remote working but overlooked the resignation process. The result is that exiting employees feel that they lack closure from their employers, which can impact their wellbeing.

Add that to the fact that individuals working from home already feel isolated and exhausted, and the bittersweet feeling of leaving a job feels more intense. It is important, then, to mark the transition by reaching out to your colleagues personally. Placing a call to let them know you're leaving also lets them know that you value the time you spent together in the workplace.

Of course, there are other things to think about when resigning, such as preparing for the exit interview and creating a handover plan, among others. Resigning virtually may seem different because of the change in medium, but the prevailing idea is still the same - to leave gracefully and maintain your connections. Keep this in mind, and navigating the online exit process may seem a bit more straightforward.

8 Do's and Don'ts Before Quitting Your Job

DO prepare a resignation letter.

The Ministry of Manpower requires a letter of termination of resignation for those who wish to end their employment contract. Aside from informing your boss that you're resigning, the resignation letter is also an opportunity for you to express your gratitude for the experiences you gained from working in the company. It is also best to offer your assistance to help ease the transition for your colleagues.

You can check out our resignation template here to help you get started.

DO request a formal meeting.

Schedule a video call with your boss as soon as possible. Avoid mentioning the resignation in your request, and instead, check in to ask when you can have a proper discussion. You owe it to your superiors to tell them in person.

As much as possible, you should give the appropriate amount of notice stipulated in your employment contract. It allows your employer to recruit a suitable replacement for a smooth transition. According to Singapore Legal Advice, if your contract does not contain a provision on how early you should send in your notice, the notice period should not be less than:

• 1 day's notice if you have been employed for less than 26 weeks
• 1 week's notice if you have been employed for at least 26 weeks and up to 2 years
• 2 weeks' notice if you have been employed for at least 2 years and up to 5 years
• 4 weeks' notice if you have been employed for at least 5 years

DO inform your teammates.

Once you've informed your direct supervisor and submitted your resignation letter, next on your agenda should be letting your teammates know. These people are the ones you've worked closely with throughout the pandemic, and even though the most bonding time you've spent is shared on a screen, they deserve to hear the news straight from you.

Best to keep your goodbyes short and professional. Be honest and sincere, but don't overshare - you never know when you'll meet these people again. You don't want to leave a bad impression. For suggestions on how to write a farewell letter to your colleagues, click here.

DO say thank you.

We'll say it again, don't burn your bridges. By showing your colleagues how much you appreciated them and the work you did with them, you're leaving on a positive note. This will help you all to have closure from your resignation, and hopefully retain a good relationship that will carry on beyond the office walls.

DON'T be casual about it.

Even though digital communication platforms usually have an air of casualness to them, it is not a good tone to take when talking about your resignation. This is an important conversation that needs to be treated with respect.

You can rehearse what you're going to say beforehand. Having the barrier of a computer screen can make it more difficult for your boss to see you clearly, which makes tone and message all the more important. Make sure to hold the call in a quiet space where you won't be disturbed to help you avoid distractions.

DON'T be negative.

While there may be things about your role that you didn't like and led you to quit, your resignation letter is not the right place for you to air those grievances. Remember that your email will be read by many people in the office - from your boss to the HR department -- so it's best to maintain discretion and avoid attacking your workplace.

DON'T compare or complain.

If you have a new job already lined up, don't brag about it to your colleagues. It's never a good look to compare your roles in the workplace, as it sounds like you're making your erstwhile employer look bad. In the same vein, avoid complaining about the workplace to other employees on your way out.

Your exit interview is the proper space for you to give constructive feedback about the company. Here you can air your complaints formally, with the intent to help your workplace improve their working conditions for their people.

DON'T leave without a proper handover.

Work with your direct supervisor and your colleagues to create a clear and detailed handover. You don't want to leave anyone hanging, and a proper turnover can help ensure minimal disruption to the team's workflow. Besides, it might come back to haunt you - your former colleagues might end up calling you for hours on end asking about an unfinished project. Make it easy for them to pick up where you left off, and you won't have to worry about getting work calls from your former workplace.

Check out our Career Resources page for tips on how you can navigate a smooth exit from your current role. It also offers expert insights and advice that could help you with the next steps of your career journey.