Last updated February 29, 2024
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What is a Resignation Letter?
A Resignation Letter is a short letter that employees give to current employers to inform them that they will be leaving their position.
This letter states your intended last day with the company. To make sure your letter has all the essential details, take a look at your Employment Contract and what is required when resigning.
A Resignation Letter is also known as a:
- Letter of Resignation
- Formal Resignation Letter
- Notice of Resignation
- Notice Letter
- Letter of Notice
- Two Weeks’ Notice Letter
Do I have to give two week's notice?
Handing in your two weeks’ notice isn’t just good business etiquette; it might also be legally required depending on the employment contract you signed. Not providing your employer with a signed and dated resignation letter could make you at risk for legal action from them (including getting sued). This is why resignations should always be given as a written document, and not just verbally.
Depending on your Employment Contract, the length of time that you are legally required to give notice may depend on your position within the company and the industry that you are in. Although the term “two weeks' notice” is often used, you can resign as early as one week or go as far as five weeks.
We recommend using Fair Work's Notice and Redundancy Calculator to determine the length of time before handing in your resignation if the information in your employment contract needs clarification.
Resignation letters should also be typed instead of hand-written, making them more professional and easier to read.
Avoiding legal ramifications aside, handing in a letter of resignation also helps build goodwill among you and your soon-to-be former employer. It’s professional, polite, and good business etiquette.
How do I write a Resignation Letter?
At the minimum, a letter of resignation should include the following:
- Your contact information (first and last name, job title, phone number, and email address)
- Your boss or supervisor’s contact information (their first and last name, job title, and company address)
- Your resignation date (the date you are handing in your notice).
- The reason you are resigning (our resignation letter template also has an easy list of options that you can also choose from)
- Notice period or last day of work (typically two weeks from the day you hand in your letter, hence the term “two weeks’ notice”)
- Mention of salutation or well wishes
- Close everything off with your signature
