It is celebration time in Recidivistland.
What I am going to write:
Dear [Manager]
As required by my contract of employment, I hereby give you one months’ notice of my intention to leave my position as Designer.
I have accepted a position with xxx Company, an opportunity to further my current career goals and achieve growth within the new company through a more senior and diverse role.
It has been my genuine pleasure to work for zzz Company during these last three years. I have enjoyed working with zzz Company’s fine staff of professionals and colleagues, and will miss my associations here. I wish you and zzz Company continued success in all your endeavors.
If I may be of any assistance in the hiring process or training of my replacement, please know that I will gladly make myself available to this effort during the next four weeks.
Yours sincerely
Recidivist
What I would like to write:
Dear [Manager]
Every time I was told I was getting more responsibility, you heaped the work on me, and then neglected to balance this with adequate remuneration, status or recognition. I am more qualified, more skilled and more intelligent than every other member of the team, but, strangely, not more senior. My Head of Department was uncovered as having told a series of lies about me when I approached HR to clarify my position, and yet, even though they have confirmed that they are aware that his comments were untrue, I have received no formal apology or explanation.
I have been offered a job with a company which is going to pay me more and give me the responsibility which befits my skills and background.
Come on, what would you do?
Yours sincerely
Recidivist
Bin the letters. Just pitch up at work and pop the champagne corks, telling your manager that you’re celebrating your fabulous new job. And spend the rest of the month bunking off with guilt-free nonchalance.
There’s a scrabble site that Busy and I have discovered, and as we are both working our notice, have agreed that we will spend August at work honing our qis, xos and ugs. Shame you’re taking a month-long sabbatical in the Seychelles, Kenya etc, or you could join our work displacement gang. As it is, I have mooted the idea of a weekly scrabble meeting at The Fox Reformed, which has been greeted with enthusiasm, so it should all be up and running on your return.
I honestly think you should send the letter the you want to write, but include the formal bit about 1 months’ notice. If you don’t give honest feedback the muppets are going to carry on messing people around forever. One of the biggest problems with being a manager is that people hardly ever tell you what’s going on in their hearts and minds – you could do other people a favour by going against that.
Congratulations. I wouldn’t tell them where you’re going, brevity beats effusive bullshit hands down… You owe them nothing save written clarification of your intent.
We shall celebrate on Tuesday although I should warn you that V has imposed a new dietary regime (note use of word regime) which includes abandonment of normal eating habits. Basically, I shall be worshipping at the altar of dehydrated brocolli for some time. I think I’m going to get sore knees.
Thanks Pixl. Will modify letter accordingly. So excited about handing in notice tomorrow. For those of you who don’t know – this has been 7 months coming! I have been in such celebratory mode that my own regimen has been out of the window in favour of lots of lovely red wine. But will get myself ascetic again by Tuesday!
Sharkstar – I agree with you, but I have already voiced all of these comments to my manager and to HR, and I just can’t be bothered. Am thinking of actually changing my mind and sending a simple ‘I herewith tender my resignation, effective as soon as my notice period is completed.’
Frankly Mr Shankley…
Yes, I think that the minimalist approach would send a strong message. Good luck with the Fox Reform’d. I’ve been there with my GF twice now for food and each time we go they have temporarily lost the use of their chef.