Do I have to write a resignation letter?

Many employers ask for one, and some require it, as the University of Washington does for its staff. Even where no rule exists, a short letter or email puts your last day on record. It also gives HR the date it needs to process your final pay.

Can I resign by email?

Yes, in most workplaces an email is accepted as a written resignation. Alberta's rules say notice must be in writing and addressed to the employer, so send it to your manager and keep a copy. Check your handbook in case your employer names a format.

Should I give a reason for leaving in my letter?

Only if your employer asks for one. A single neutral line, such as having accepted another position, is enough. Save detailed feedback for an exit interview.

What if my employer tells me to leave right away?

An employer can choose to end your job before the last day you gave. Ask HR how your final pay and any notice pay will be handled. Rules differ by state and province, so check your labor department's site if you think you are owed pay.

How to write a resignation letter, with templates

Q: Is two weeks' notice required by law?

It depends on where you work. Missouri's labor department says at-will employment does not require any notice, and other states set their own rules. In Canada, it depends on the province, and Alberta requires one or two weeks of written notice after 90 days. A contract can also set its own notice period.

To write a resignation letter, state that you are resigning, name your position, give your last day of work, and sign it. Keep it to a few short paragraphs. In Alberta, an employee with more than 90 days of service must give 1 or 2 weeks of written notice. Missouri, under at-will employment, requires none.

What should a resignation letter include?

A resignation letter needs four things: a sentence saying you are resigning, your position, your last day of work, and your name and signature. A short thank-you and an offer to help with the handover are optional. Everything else, including why you are leaving, can stay out unless your employer asks for it.

The University of Washington's HR page on voluntary termination, last updated October 9, 2026, is a useful model from a large employer. It says staff are "required to submit a written letter of resignation" and lists what the letter should include: a statement that you intend to resign, your name, position title and department, and the effective date, including your last day worked.

That list fits most employers. Your own handbook or HR site may add items, so check it before you send anything. Some employers want the letter sent to HR as well as your manager.

Keep the letter to one page, and usually a few short paragraphs. A resignation letter goes into your file and can be read later by people who never met you. Write it so that a stranger reading it in two years learns the facts and nothing you would regret.

How much notice do you have to give?

Missouri's labor department says at-will employment requires no notice, and other states set their own rules. In Canada, it depends on the province. Ontario and British Columbia set no general notice rule for employees who quit, while Alberta requires written notice of one or two weeks once you have worked there more than 90 days.

Missouri's labor department answers the question directly on its page about two weeks' notice: Missouri follows the "Employment-At-Will" doctrine, "which does not require any notice." Other states have their own rules, so check your state labor department's site and your employment contract. A signed contract or a union agreement can require notice even where state law does not.

In British Columbia, the province's page on quitting or getting fired says "Employers usually like some notice before an employee quits, but this is not required." Ontario's guide to termination of employment, last updated July 23, 2026, sets a resignation notice rule only for employees who have received notice of a mass termination and want to leave early.

Alberta is stricter. The province's page on termination and termination pay says employees who wish to resign "are required to give written notice." The notice must be in writing, addressed to the employer, and at least as long as the period the page sets.

Where you work	What the official page says about employee notice	Source
Missouri	No notice required under the at-will doctrine	Missouri Department of Labor
Other US states	Check your state labor department and your contract	Your state's labor site
Ontario	No general rule; one or two weeks' written notice only after a mass termination notice	Ontario ESA guide
British Columbia	Employers usually like notice; the law does not require it	Government of B.C.
Alberta	Written notice: 1 week after more than 90 days and under 2 years; 2 weeks after 2 years or more	Government of Alberta

Where no rule applies, pick a date that leaves time for a proper handover. If your contract names a notice period, plan your start date around it. Tell your new employer the date before you resign, so nobody is surprised.

What does a basic resignation letter look like?

Here is a basic example you can copy and edit. It states the facts, thanks the employer in one line and offers help with the handover. Replace each item in square brackets, and send it by email with the letter in the body or attached, as your employer prefers.

Subject: Resignation, [your name] Dear [manager's name], Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from my position as [job title] in [team or department]. My last day of work will be [date]. Thank you for the chance to work on [one specific project or team]. Over the next [two] weeks I will finish [current work] and write handover notes for [colleague or role]. Sincerely, [Your name]

Count the days before you fill in the date. If your notice period is two weeks and you resign on a Monday, the last day is usually the Friday of the following week. Ask HR how your employer counts notice if you are unsure.

What do resignation letter templates look like for other situations?

The basic letter covers most cases. Change one or two lines when the situation is different: a short notice period, a role you are leaving on bad terms, or a move you want to keep friendly because you may come back. Each template below is an example to adapt, written for this page.

Short notice, for when you can't give the usual two weeks:

Dear [manager's name], I am resigning from my position as [job title]. My last day will be [date]. I know this is shorter notice than usual, and I am sorry for the disruption. Before I go I will write up the status of [projects] and share it with [name]. Sincerely, [Your name]

Leaving on difficult terms, where the letter should stay neutral:

Dear [manager's name], This letter is my formal notice of resignation from my position as [job title]. My last day of work will be [date]. I will return my [laptop, badge, keys] on that day. Sincerely, [Your name]

Leaving on good terms, with the door open:

Dear [manager's name], I am writing to resign from my position as [job title], effective [date]. I have accepted a role that moves me into [new area]. I have learned a great deal here, especially from working on [project]. I would be glad to stay in touch, and I hope our paths cross again. Sincerely, [Your name]

What should you leave out of a resignation letter?

Leave out complaints, comparisons with your new job, salary details and anything you would not want a future reference checker to read. If you have feedback, give it in an exit interview or a private conversation. The letter is a record of facts: who is leaving, from what role, and on what date.

Some employers ask for a reason, and the University of Washington page lists the reason for leaving among the items its letter should include. If yours asks, one plain line is enough, such as "I have accepted a position with another organization." The page on why you are leaving your current job has neutral wording that also works here.

Don't mention a counteroffer in the letter. If you expect your employer to try to keep you, decide before you resign what you would do. The guide on whether to accept a counteroffer covers that choice, and the page on how to respond to a job offer covers getting the new offer in writing first.

When should you send your resignation letter?

Send it after you have a signed written offer and any background checks are done. Tell your manager in person or on a call first, then send the letter the same day so the date is on record. Resigning before the new offer is final leaves you exposed if the offer changes or is withdrawn.

Here is an example of what to say in the conversation before you send the letter. It is short on purpose.

"I wanted to tell you directly before I send anything in writing. I have accepted another position, and my last day will be [date]. I'll send my resignation letter this afternoon, and I'd like to talk about how to hand over [project]."

If you are still weighing two offers, finish that first. The guide to compare job offers walks through it, and the page on how to decline a job offer covers the one you turn down.

What happens after you resign?

Expect to agree on a handover plan, return equipment, and get your final pay. Your employer may also accept your resignation early and end your job before your last day. In the US, final pay timing is set by state law. In B.C., the employer must pay final wages within six days when an employee quits.

The US Department of Labor's page on the last paycheck says "Employers are not required by federal law to give former employees their final paycheck immediately," and adds that some states require immediate payment. The B.C. page above sets the deadline as "Within 6 days after the employee's last day of work when an employee quits." Ask HR when to expect your last pay and any unused vacation pay.

Use the notice period to leave things in good order. Write handover notes for each open piece of work, list the people a successor should contact, and save your own examples of results while you can still check the numbers. Copy only what you are allowed to keep, and leave company files behind.

Those results belong on your resume before the details fade. The free resume optimizer rewrites the lines that matter for a new job and keeps your facts as they are. If you plan to tell your network, the page on LinkedIn's Open to Work setting covers who sees what.