If you are reading this, you have probably been asked to resign or you are in a situation where they may soon be asking you to resign. Whatever the case may be, a request like this, rather than a direct dismissal, can be difficult to manage. Before accepting the situation, remember that you have alternatives and can decide to wait to be fired. To help you deal with this problem as easily as possible, you should first be aware of your rights and options.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Listen and Understand the Circumstances
Step 1. Maintain a calm and professional attitude
Given your situation, you need to be able to quit your job as peacefully as possible. Your future employment may depend on being able to remain calm right now. There may be friendly and / or professional relationships between employees of the current company and potential employers. Also, the company you are currently in may be contacted to give your references. As a result, you need to do your best not to lose your temper and show professional demeanor. That's how:
- Listen to what the boss has to say. It can be difficult to remain silent, but you have to listen to him in order to understand the situation.
- Don't argue. Whatever the circumstances, the employer made this decision. As a courtesy, he may give you the option to resign or stay and wait to be fired. The quarrels and pleas will not change his mind.
- Don't make a scene or, at least, avoid it in front of your colleagues or the boss. The meeting can go very differently if you behave rudely, and the boss will revoke the option to resign. If you pose a threat or behave unprofessionally, you will be asked to leave and escorted out of the building by security officers. If this happens, the consequences will be negative: bad references, bad impressions, possible lack of eligibility for unemployment benefit or other benefits, and probable legal problems.
Step 2. Try to fully understand why they are asking you to resign
You have probably already understood the circumstances surrounding the decision (because they have already told you about it), you have the feeling that something is happening or you know you have made a mistake. In any case, if you don't fully understand them, you need to ask for clarification. Knowing the exact reasons they are asking you to resign will help you decide whether to leave right away or stay and wait to be fired.
For example, if they ask you to leave because they will eliminate your professional role, then resigning will not allow you to receive unemployment benefit and it would be better to wait until you are fired. If they ask you to leave because you made a mistake and did not follow the rules of the company, it would be better to resign, as otherwise you could have negative consequences and be ineligible to receive the benefit
Step 3. Learn about company policies regarding reference checking and audits made by prospective employers
Before deciding whether to resign or wait to be fired, it is important to know the rules of the company regarding these aspects. This means knowing the information that can be given when a potential employer calls the company to find out more about you. Here's what they might be:
- Dates of commencement and termination of the employment relationship.
- Title.
- Salary.
- Eligibility for a Rehiring.
- How the relationship ended (whether peacefully or not).
- Reason you left.
- Character and personal traits.
- Work ethic.
Step 4. Remember that you have the right to reconsider
At this point, you have only two alternatives: resign or wait to be fired. You don't have to sign documents or write a resignation letter immediately, because you have the option to re-evaluate your options. There are pros and cons to both resignation and dismissal, and it is important to weigh the possibilities before expressing consent.
Your boss may be trying to bully you, but he can't force you to make a decision right away. One way or another, you will soon be leaving the business, but you need to know what is best for your situation and your future
Part 2 of 2: Consider the Alternatives and Make a Decision
Step 1. Review the pros and cons of resigning
As stated earlier, each alternative has advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered before deciding. As for your resignation, the biggest downside is that you are unlikely to be eligible for unemployment benefit. On the other hand, the pros are different:
- You have the option to turn the situation around in your favor and claim that you left peacefully. You don't have to say that you were fired or that they asked you to leave.
- The employer will use the word "resign" when asked why you left.
- You may be able to negotiate a liquidation. The company wants you to leave: at this point, in a sense, you can have the knife on the side of the handle, although it seems to you that it is not. In exchange for a peaceful transition, you may be able to open negotiations for severance pay, which will allow you to get paid and benefits for a few months.
Step 2. Evaluate the pros and cons of waiting for your dismissal
The advantages can outweigh the disadvantages if you are in need of unemployment insurance and think you will qualify under the circumstances. If you get fired against your will, you have a higher chance of receiving these benefits. Also, if you believe the dismissal is wrong and / or discriminatory, you may have the option to sue the company. On the other hand, there are also cons, including:
- You may not be eligible for liquidation.
- You may get bad references if another business contacts your employer.
- When your boss asks why you left, he will say that you have been fired; it could also explain the specific reasons why it happened (as stated above, it depends on company policies). For example, it may claim that you were fired for negligence.
Step 3. Make a decision that suits you and notify the employer
Based on the evaluation of the pros and cons of both alternatives, you need to make a choice and communicate it to the boss as soon as possible. If you have taken time to decide, you will need to schedule another meeting and include all members from the first meeting. Here is what you should do during this meeting:
- Briefly explain whether you have decided to resign or stay.
- Keep the explanation simple and professional.
- Don't be overly emotional or angry.
- Prepare to leave that very day. The employer is unlikely to let a disgruntled employee stay in the company, he will not expose himself to risk. If you've decided to wait for your firing, be prepared for it to happen on that very day.
Step 4. Get ready to move on
Once you've made the decision and notified your employer, you need to be ready to move forward on your path. As you will leave this place sooner or later, it is time to come up with a future professional move.
