Letter of Resignation
A professional letter from an employee giving notice of resignation, including effective date and transition offer.
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A letter of resignation is a formal written notice from an employee to their employer stating their intention to leave their position and the effective date of their last day of work. While verbal resignations are legally valid in most circumstances, a written letter creates a clear, dated record and is considered professional practice in virtually every employment context.
Notice requirements
Employment standards legislation in every province specifies minimum notice periods that an employee must provide based on their length of service. However, an employment contract may require longer notice — particularly for senior positions — and failing to provide contractually required notice can expose the employee to a claim for damages. The industry standard for most salaried positions is two weeks, but management and professional roles commonly require four weeks or more.
What the letter should include
A professional resignation letter states the position being resigned, the effective date, a brief acknowledgment of the employment, and an offer to assist with the transition. It should be courteous in tone — the Canadian professional and legal community is smaller than it appears, and a poorly worded resignation letter can have lasting consequences.