Resignation letter?

Question

Hi I have just got a new job and want to do my resignation letter. I intend putting on my letter that my boss was never off my case and caused me considerable stress (my doctor also signed me off for 2 months). I think this should be pointed out as I also went to Human Resources about him and nothing was done. I will copy in a senior director to let them know of the goings on as well. Can I do this without burning bridges? I have a new job offer and have accepted but they haven't asked for references. I have old references which are excellent.

Thanks for all your comments. I put the resignation letter in once I got my new job offer officially in. The resignation letter was simple and just gave my notice. Thanks!

Answer 1

I'd be careful of putting all that into a resignation letter, even if you have other references.

A lot of Human Resource departments will do "exit interviews" in which you can say all of that. Most places will say your responses will stay "anonymous" which at least gives you some protection from burning too many bridges. That way you get to say what you need (they will probably decifer that it is you saying it, if you get specific), and yet you'll save yourself some future trouble.

Best of luck finding happiness in your next position.

Answer 2

You should never put complaints in a resignation letter it isn't a good idea as it could jeopardise future references and chances of ever returning to the firm should you want to.

I went through a similar situation a few years ago and I wrote a standard resignation letter addressed to personnel which stated I had another position which enabled me to develop my skills, thanksed them for the opportunities and wished them well in the future.

However once I started in the other job I wrote a letter to the chief executive as I knew other people were getting treated badly by the person in question. I outlined factually what had happened with me and the effect it had. I didn't exaggerate or embellish anything and I didn't blame the company.

The result was a letter of acknowledgement thanking me for my honesty, the person was dealt with and I was tod I was welcome back to the company at any time.

So think carefully about what you do, you don't want to look unprofessional.

Answer 3

I would not tell your boss off. doing so would burn your bridges. Leaving a letter of resignation would imply that you want to leave a complany under good terms. other wise why not just storm out and quit? You want to leave on a good note because you may consider coming back. Besides if you come back.. there is no gaurantee that you will be working for the same boss again, much less the same location. Your current supervisor may be a jerk.. but that doesnt mean you cant work for the same company for another supervisor in a different area, if you decide to come back.

If its because you dont want future employers to ask your former boss about you, remember all they can legally say ( In California as far as i know) that you did work for that particualr company between these two dates, i.e your date of hire and your last day on the job. He or she cannot tell a potential future employer that you sucked or you were lazy or anything like that.

At my last 2 jobs, I repectfully resigned with 2 weeks notice.. A couple of days after giving notice, I recieved calls from human resourses wondering why I decided to leave... then I let them have it and boy oh boy.. there we a lot of issues of why I was leaving. After all.. Human resourses's reponsibilty is to make sure that their employees are taken care of. So they want to know why we have decided to leave. All comments are kept confidentail but it does offer them feedback so that they can improve upon thier company. But in your case... perhaps your company was not a good one in the first place if they didnt give a damn about you. But also put into consideration... this.. if they fired your boss.. do you know how much paperwork and headache it would be to replace that person? Thus this is why so many companies do not like to do this..

Just say in your letter of resignation of when you are leaving. Thank them for being employed there and move on. Leave your bad feelings out of it. Be professional. Spill your beans to the people who can do someting about it later, if they call you. If your just a grunt.. like a stock boy or a wiater.. H.R. will not really call you.. but if your a supervisor or a manager like I was... they they will want to know what is going on.

Get the job first. It looks like you have already got it.. so I wouldnt worry about them calling for references at this point if they already hired you. Leave with your head held high and your reputaion as a good worker intact. Be a professional, and keep to the facts, not the emotions or feelings. Dont leave baggage that may turn around to bite you in the butt. Remember, It is your boss that will put in the personell files if you are rehirable or not based upon your performance and how you left the company.

Answer 4

I work in HR as a Manager and we do exit interviews for any colleagues that leave. They are strictly confidential and we ask the colleague the reason for leaving. It is best to discuss your issues with HR during this interview as letters don't express the true depth of your problems and could be ignored (I know as I have dealt with many issues similar to yours).

If your company don't do Exit interviews, request a meeting with the HR manager. It is always best to get these things out in the open as If the manager in question has issues, how can he correct them? He may also be causing other people unnessecary stress which must stop right away.

There is no point copying in the director as they will just pass it back down to HR and ask them to deal with it.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

No. Don't put your gripes in your letter. Remember that your letter will be a permanent part of your employee file and that it could come back to haunt you. The better thing to address your gripes would be to request a meeting with HR and the senior director you mentioned and express your concerns verbally.

I know by law previous employers are not allowed to say anything negative about you, but it would be very hard for you to prove if they did! Also, most of the time it's what they DON'T say that hurts you worse. Like when they ask "Would you hire Mr. B again" and they say no, that could hurt you worse than anything!

Answer 6

There is no reason to put this in your resignation letter. It would be much better to arrange an interview with your HR manager to discuss these issues, an "exit interview". You will have more effect if you deal with the issues tactfully and constructively and try not to sound like a disgruntled employee.

Answer 7

congratulations on the new job!

as for voicing your issues without burning bridges, i think the only way you can do that is to avoid all mention in your resignation letter and request an exit interview (if one is not standard procedure with the company). an exit interview (should be) designed to be confidential; however, you should still be careful how you word things so as not to be too harsh/judgemental.

i've left several positions in the past using exit interviews to vent my frustrations and it worked great. i was able to explain my full reasons for leaving without losing any friendships or references.

good luck!

Answer 8

nope. do not mention anything about what happened with your boss. a resignation letter is basically a formal way of saying that you're leaving the job. just say that you are resigning and specify the # days notice you are giving (typically a 14 day notice).

Answer 9

I would do two separate letters, one for your resignation. Then do a complaint letter to the relevant person stating what has happened in the past and that this has influenced your decision to leave.

Answer 10

all you need to put in a resignation letter is that your leaving giving the needed notice.

Remember that when they open your file the first thing they will see is the last thing you wrote,

leave on a good note, if you had problems there so what you dont have to go there again