If not dealt with properly, the resignation of an employee can be a problem for any company. It can leave other employees to pick up the pieces, as well as you having to start hunting for a suitable replacement. Here are some tips on how to prevent the resignation of an employee from disrupting your workplace.
Implement a policy which should include steps an employee must take when resigning, alongside the notice period expected and ensure the policy is highlighted during meetings or to any new recruits. If an employee doesn’t show up for work, check that they are okay, as they may have had an accident or family emergency. If not, and they continue to be absent, then they are in breach of their contract which has serious consequences.
If the employee does give their notice, it is imperative to discuss their current work projects with the aim of finding out what they can complete before finishing up and how the work will be handled when they leave. Have the employee write a detailed handover document including their day to day responsibilities, their current projects, contact information for clients and any upcoming deadlines. If the worker leaving is of a higher position, have them write details for the team projects, so whoever is replacing the employee, knows how to manage the team appropriately.
Keep it professional and congratulate the employee on their new role and thank them for work carried out within their role at your company. People leave work for many several reasons and it’s important for an employer to accept their decision and allow them to leave with no hard feelings. They will appreciate it and if asked about your company in the future, should only have pleasant things to say.
Most resignations are not expected, but they may not always be a surprise to the employer. Workers resign for several reasons, such as a step up in their career, being offered substantially more money or wanting to be closer to home. If your employee has expressed similar issues within your company before, then their decision to leave shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. However, if a number of employee starts leaving for similar reasons, then it’s time to change things up. For example, if team members leave because of long commutes, try and develop a better work from home policy. If employees are being offered more money at competing companies, you need to review your salary and promotion offers. Or if employees resign because they haven’t been given the promotion they wanted, open up more opportunities for professional advancement to your employees.
When a worker resigns it will always cause uncertainty, which will lead to stress, and therefore how you handle this situation will have a substantial impact on your company. It is important to set a good atmosphere following the departure of an employee, as the positive tone will have a beneficial effect on the immediate and long-term future of your employees, ensuring that your current team will be happy to stay with your company for the foreseeable future.
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