Want to Resign, but Bosses are Out of Office Today

Question

I'm a part-time employee (full-time student) on a limited-time contract and I'm in my last two weeks of my three-months probation. The decision has been planned and is not rushed, however failure to resign within the last two weeks means that quitting afterwards requires a longer notice period and I'd like to take the easy way out if possible. I'd like to take the opportunity to quit today, but all of my bosses are out of the office. Now I have a few choices and am unsure which one I should choose:

1. Give my notice to the HR department regardless of the availability of my bosses.

2. Wait until Monday and hand it in to my boss.

I would also like to discuss my departure with my coworker whom I spend a lot of time with. Is it a good idea to do so ahead of my resignation, as in talk to her about it today if I'm planning on waiting until Monday to tell my bosses/HR?

Answer 1

You are at a company. Any communications with the company (for example a resignation letter) take effect at the time the company should be aware of it. You can hand over your resignation to HR, and it is valid right then (if you don't trust them, ask for a receipt for the letter). If your boss is on a six week holiday, that's not your problem.

In an extreme case, if you sent a letter by registered mail and the company refused to accept it, legally they would have "received" the letter at that time.

On the other hand, if there is a sudden reason why you want to quit, then spending a weekend thinking about it might lead to a better solution.

Answer 2

It's usually better to hand your notice to your line manager or immediate supervisor, to discuss reasons for quitting, hand-over requirements, etc.

However, it's worth remembering that notice is just that, notice. You're putting the company on notice that you will be quitting (usually on such-and-such a date, in line with the terms of your contract), you're not asking permission to quit.

As such, in the absence of your line management and especially if there's a time-critical aspect to your need to submit notice by a certain date, it's perfectly reasonable to hand your notice to HR.

With regard to discussing your intention to leave with colleagues, I would suggest that you absolutely not do so prior to submitting your notice.

I'd also suggest being very careful about what you do discuss with colleagues prior to speaking to your supervisor. If you wish to discuss your discontent (assuming that's why you wish to leave!) then I simply wouldn't do so at all, no good will come of it.

I'm suggesting caution above because even now as a student, you should be looking to build and enhance a reputation for professional behaviour at all times while at work.

If you wish to hand projects over then ideally I'd suggest waiting until you've talked with your supervisor first but again, if this is time critical (e.g. you wish to hand in notice during your probation notice so you can quit and finish work completely today) then obviously you'd need to hand things over to a colleague rather than just walk away and leave things floating.

Answer 3

The main point is that you're a part time worker/student, I doubt the place would crash to a halt if you left.

Hand in your resignation to HR in your timeframe and don't worry about where the bosses are. They don't have to be there for it to be effective from that time. I see no need to wait.

Answer 4

You still have the next week. You have not done it this week, cool it off. You will ruin everybody´s weekend, including yours.

Talk with everybody Monday, it is more wise. Do not discuss it with your workmate, People will be people, she has a sense of loyalty, or she may want to cover her needs. She will call your bosses, it will be a mess. Your superior might even call you during the weekend, or make a rushed appearance at the end of the day. Summing it up, it wont be wise discussing it with any of your colleagues before taking with your direct manager. It is a simple rule of work etiquette.

If by next Monday your boss is not in again, absolutely deliver the resignation letter directly to HR.