Having a child has a way of shifting one’s priorities and career goals. One such shift that commonly happens for new parents is the decision to leave their job to focus on taking care of their child or to take another job with more flexibility or better pay. If you find yourself on maternity or paternity leave and are planning to leave your job, you will have to follow company protocol on how to do that, which usually involves writing a letter of resignation.
There are some added layers of complexity when you resign while you’re on or have just returned from parental leave. This article delves into those specifics and provides guidance on how to write a resignation letter due to maternity or paternity leave that will allow you to remain on good terms with your company after you depart.
Understanding resignation letters for parental leave
New parents may choose, at some point early in their child’s life, to focus on taking care of their family and leave their place of employment. This may be decided while they’re on maternity or paternity leave or shortly after they have returned to work. In either case, they would need to write a formal resignation letter. This is an official document telling their company that they will be leaving the company due to their desire to focus on childcare.
How far in advance to notify the employer
It is recommended that you inform your employer of your plan to take paternity or maternity leave at least one to three months in advance. This will allow both you and your employer to prepare for the time you’ll be away.
If you’re currently on maternity and paternity leave and you’ve decided to resign from your job, you should notify your employer two to four weeks before your parental leave is up. Even though you are not currently working, this is a common notice period to provide. In fact, some companies may mandate employees to give two weeks’ notice before resigning—such a policy would apply to all employees, even those currently on parental leave.
If you’ve already returned to work after your parental leave, give your employer at least two weeks’ notice, and up to as much as four weeks’ notice, that you intend to resign.
It’s always a good idea to check your employment contract to see whether there is a set notice period that you agreed to when you started at the company. If there is a mandated number of weeks’ notice to give and you fail to adhere to it, you may be at risk of inadvertently violating your contract, which could lead to legal consequences.
Crafting your letter of resignation for parental leave
Your resignation letter due to parental leave should be written in the format of a business letter and contain a few important points. As with all forms of business writing, it should be concise and grammatically correct. Using a tool like Grammarly can help you improve the clarity and concision of your writing and ensure proper grammar, punctuation, and tone.
To write a resignation letter due to parental leave, you should include the following points:
- Today’s date
- Name of the company
- Name of the person you’re addressing the letter to (your immediate manager)
- Your intent to resign due to parental leave
- Your last date of work
- Appreciation for the company
- An offer to help with the transition of your duties
- Your name
If you need assistance in drafting your resignation letter, you can try using Grammarly’s AI resignation letter generator. All you have to do is provide the name of the person to whom you will address the letter and indicate that you are resigning due to paternity or maternity leave. The generator will then produce a draft of the letter that you can customize and modify to fit your specific situation.
Example resignation letter due to maternity or paternity leave
Below is a sample resignation letter that you can use as the basis for drafting your own letter of resignation due to parental leave.
[Today’s Date]
[Name of Company]
[Address of Company]
Dear [Name of Manager],
Please accept this letter as notification of my intent to resign from my role as [Your Position Title] at [Company Name]. As you know, I recently had a child, and I intend to resign due to [maternity/paternity] leave to focus on caring for my family. My last day at the company will be [date of last day].
This was not an easy decision; it was one I made with careful consideration. Ultimately, my decision is not a reflection of my time at the company but one that I believe is best for my family.
I understand that my departure might leave a gap in the team. Please let me know how I can support a transition of my responsibilities to ensure a smooth offboarding process.
Thank you for the opportunity to work at [Company Name] and for your support during my time here. It has been a privilege to work with you and alongside such inspiring and innovative colleagues. I will miss you all, and I hope we can stay in touch. I would like to wish you and the company continued success in the future. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Tips for your resignation letter due to parental leave
Your resignation letter for parental leave will function as official, legal documentation of your departure. It can also be used as a farewell message to your colleagues. Here are some tips on how to craft a resignation letter that allows you to leave on a positive note.
Check your company’s policies
It is important to be aware of your company’s policies regarding resigning while on maternity or paternity leave. Certain companies may have specific rules in place, such as discontinuing health insurance payments or asking for reimbursement of insurance payments made during the period of parental leave. It is recommended to consult with your human resources (HR) team to understand your company’s policies thoroughly before drafting your resignation letter.
Write your resignation in a letter format
Your resignation letter should be written in letter format. That means it should contain the name of your direct manager, the company name, the date, and your name at the end. If you happen to have your own personal letterhead, you can use it for your resignation letter.
Use appropriate communication channel
When you decide to resign from your job, it’s important to find out what your company’s preferred communication channel is. Some companies may require a PDF resignation letter, while others may accept an email. To avoid any confusion, it’s best to ask your manager or an HR representative about their policies regarding this matter. Make sure to follow the guidelines provided when submitting your resignation letter.
Write in a formal and respectful tone
Your resignation letter is a legal document that creates a paper trail of the circumstances and timeline surrounding your departure. Since it is an official piece of business writing, make sure you use a formal and professional tone.
Proofread your letter
Submitting a resignation letter with errors such as typos, run-on sentences, or an inappropriate tone can be quite embarrassing. However, with the assistance of a writing tool like Grammarly, you can proofread your resignation letter and ensure that it is well-written and professional. This will help you present yourself in the best possible light to your employer.
Give as much notice as possible
It’s important to give your employer ample time to make arrangements for your departure when you decide to resign from your job. If you’ve been on parental leave and have made the decision not to return to work, it’s considerate to inform your employer of your resignation at least a few weeks before your last day. This will allow them to plan for your absence or to hire someone to fill your role. Even if you’re not physically present, you can still assist with your offboarding process from a distance.
Reiterate your positive experience at the company
When someone on your team resigns, it can be difficult for everyone involved. To make this process easier, it is important to let your colleagues know that your resignation is not due to any negative experience with the company, but rather a personal decision related to your family. You should emphasize that you have had a positive experience working at the company and express gratitude toward your immediate manager and teammates for the warm relationships you’ve built during your time there.
FAQs on resignation letter due to maternal or paternal leave
How should I communicate my resignation due to maternity or paternity leave to my employer?
If you plan to leave your job due to maternity or paternity leave, it’s important to write a resignation letter addressed to your manager and the company. The letter should include the date of your last day of work, a statement that you are leaving to care for your family, a thank-you note to the company, and an offer to help your manager with the transition of your duties.
How can I ensure a smooth transition when resigning due to parental leave?
If you are resigning due to parental leave, it is important to ensure a smooth transition. You can do this by offering to help transition your responsibilities and providing as much notice as possible to give the company time to prepare for your absence. In addition, even while on leave, you should try to help your manager fill the gap in the team that will be created by your departure. By taking these steps, you can make the transition as seamless as possible for everyone involved.
How can I use AI to help with writing a resignation letter for maternity or paternity leave?
If you need to write a resignation letter for maternity or paternity leave, you can use AI to make the process easier. Grammarly’s AI resignation letter generator can be a great tool for this purpose. To use it, simply provide the name of the person who will receive the letter and some information about why you’re resigning. The AI assistant will then generate a first draft of the resignation letter, which you can customize and edit to fit your specific situation.
