Resignation Letter: Free Template & Examples
A resignation letter is a short written notice that tells your employer you are ending your job. It needs your name, the date, your last day of work, a clear statement that you are resigning and a polite sign-off. Keep it factual, keep a copy, and check your contract or award for the notice you owe before you pick a finishing date.
Resignation letter: what to include
Most workplaces do not require a set format, so a single page is enough. Each part below does a job if a question about your last day comes up later.
| Section | What to write | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Date and recipient | Put today's date and address your manager or the person named in your contract. | The date shows when you gave notice, which is the start of your notice period. |
| Clear statement | Write "I am resigning from my position as [job title]" so nobody has to guess your intention. | A vague message such as "I'm thinking of leaving" can be read as not yet final. |
| Last day of work | State the exact date, counted from the notice your contract, award or agreement requires. | It fixes when your final pay, leave payout and super are calculated. |
| Handover offer | Offer to finish open jobs, hand over keys, passes and equipment, and brief your replacement. | It keeps the relationship professional and helps with future references. |
| Short thanks | Add one sentence of thanks for the role, without comment on any dispute or complaint. | A neutral tone protects you if the letter is read later by someone else. |
| Contact details | Give a personal email and phone number for payslips, your payment summary and final pay queries. | You will lose access to work systems on your last day, so this keeps records reachable. |
Resignation letter template for Australian employees
Use this as a starting point only. Replace everything in [square brackets] and delete any line that does not apply to you.
Dear [Manager's name],
I am writing to resign from my position as [job title] with [company name]. My last day of work will be [last day, based on the notice in my contract or award].
Please let me know how you would like me to handle my current work. I am happy to document my tasks, train a replacement and return all keys, passes and equipment before I leave.
Please confirm my final pay, including any unused annual leave and superannuation, in writing. Thank you for the opportunity to work with [company name].
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]Resignation letter examples for different situations
The wording changes a little with your employment type and notice. These short variations keep the same core statement.
Casual worker
- Say you are ending your casual engagement and give your last rostered shift, so the employer can fill it without guessing.
- Check your award or contract for any notice a casual owes, because many casual arrangements need less than ongoing roles.
- Ask for your final pay and payslip by email, noting that casuals do not accrue paid annual leave to be paid out.
Site labourer or tradesperson
- Offer to return your site access card, keys, tools and PPE on your last shift, and name the supervisor who will receive them.
- Confirm your last day with your site supervisor in person, then send the letter so the written record matches the conversation.
- Ask for copies of your white card details, licences and training records, which you keep and will need for your next job.
Office or professional role
- List your open projects, shared files and client contacts in the letter or a separate handover note attached to it.
- State your last day clearly and offer a handover meeting, giving your manager time to arrange cover.
- Confirm whether any notice is being worked or paid out, because the employer may agree to a different finishing date.
Resignation with short notice
- Write the notice you can give, say you understand it is shorter than your contract requires and ask whether the employer will agree.
- Expect the employer may ask for more notice or may reduce your final pay as your contract or award allows, so ask what applies first.
- Offer practical help, such as extra handover hours, and keep the reply in writing in case the last day is later disputed.
Resignation letter legal must-haves and things to leave out
Most private-sector employees are covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the National Employment Standards. NSW state public sector employees, and some local government staff, sit in the NSW state system, and an award or agreement can add to these basics.
Check these entitlements
- Notice: follow the period in your employment contract, award or enterprise agreement, because the NES notice table applies to employers ending a job, not to you.
- Annual leave: unused accrued annual leave is paid out when employment ends, and your employer cannot remove that entitlement through a resignation clause.
- Super: the guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings for 2026-27, and payday super means it must reach your fund within 7 business days of payday from 1 July 2026.
- Long service leave in NSW: you usually qualify after 10 years, and pro rata payment for 5 to 10 years applies only in cases such as resigning for illness, incapacity or a pressing domestic necessity.
- Final pay and payslip: ask for your final pay and payslip in writing, and use the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for your award to check the amounts.
- Forced resignation: if your employer pushed you to resign, an unfair dismissal application to the Fair Work Commission must be lodged within 21 days of the dismissal taking effect.
Leave these out
- Personal attacks on named colleagues or managers, which can create problems for you and others even if you feel justified.
- Allegations of bullying, harassment or unsafe work that belong in a separate complaint to your employer, SafeWork NSW or the Fair Work Commission.
- Any wording that waives your annual leave, super or other entitlements, since you should never sign away entitlements the law gives you.
- Comments about a colleague's age, pregnancy, family, religion, race, disability, sexuality or union membership, which can be discriminatory.
- Backdated dates or a changed last day made up later, as the letter should record what really happened and when.
- Threats or demands for payment as a condition of leaving, which belong in a conversation with the Fair Work Ombudsman or a lawyer instead.
For employers, the matching duties are to acknowledge the letter in writing, agree the last day, pay all entitlements and never pressure a worker to resign.
Common resignation letter mistakes to avoid
- Sending the resignation letter before checking your contract, award or enterprise agreement for the notice you owe and how it must be given.
- Using an unclear phrase such as "I might leave soon" instead of a direct statement of resignation and a specific last working day.
- Venting about pay, a supervisor or the roster, when the same points would be safer raised in a separate, factual complaint.
- Resigning in anger by text or in a meeting, with nothing in writing, which leaves no record of the date you gave notice.
- Forgetting to keep a copy of your resignation letter and any reply, which you may need if there is a dispute about final pay.
- Leaving without returning keys, passes and tools, or without asking for your payslip, payment summary and training records.
Resignation letter FAQ
How long should a resignation letter be?
One short page is enough. State that you are resigning, give your last day, offer a handover and thank your employer in a sentence. Extra detail about why you are leaving is optional and often unhelpful if there is a later dispute about your final pay or notice.
Do I have to give a reason in my resignation letter?
No. Australian law does not require you to explain why you are leaving. A simple statement that you are resigning is enough. If you are leaving because of bullying or unsafe work, raise that separately with your employer, SafeWork NSW or the Fair Work Commission instead of putting it in the letter.
Can I email my resignation letter?
Usually yes, unless your contract says notice must be delivered another way. Email gives you a dated record, so send it to your manager and keep a copy. If you are unsure, check your contract or award, or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.
Can my employer refuse my resignation letter?
Generally no. Resigning is your decision, but you may still owe the notice in your contract or award. Your employer can agree to a shorter period or ask you to work it out. If they threaten you or withhold pay, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Next steps after you send your resignation letter
Once your resignation letter is in, confirm your last day, collect your payslips and plan your next role. If you want site, labour, plant operator or cleaning work in Sydney, we can help you register and line up your next job. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice, so check the Fair Work Ombudsman, the ATO or an employment lawyer for your situation.