Discover what to do if your boss doesn’t accept your resignation. Learn how to navigate this challenging situation with professionalism and grace.
No matter how unfair or frustrating it may be when your boss doesn’t help you get a promotion, it’s in your best interest not to take it personally. There could be countless reasons why your boss is unwilling to support you. Maybe he’s insecure and views you as a competitor. Maybe he suffers from unconscious bias, which results in unfair assessments of your performance and growth potential. resentment
What to Do If Your Boss Doesn’t Accept Your Resignation.
Resigning from a job can be scary because no matter how well you think you know your boss or how hard you try to pick the best time to break the news, you can never be sure how he or she will react: Will he or she be disappointed? Will he or she beg you to stay? Will he or she be nice and wish you luck?
Trying to keep you. If your boss values you or the reason you gave for resigning is related to seeking better conditions, he or she may offer you a raise, promotion or a new challenge to tempt you to reconsider your decision and stay. This is especially common in positions that are difficult to replace or in cases of highly specialized or scarce profiles.
Asking you to stay longer. Your boss may ask you to stay longer than the 15 days notice period, so that the company can hire and train your replacement. This may occur in the case of employees who have been in the position for a long time, at times when an important project is being managed, or on dates when there is a peak in workload.
Accepting your resignation with displeasure. It’s also possible that your boss won’t take immediate action – as in the previous case – but will make it clear that he or she is not happy with your decision. In this situation, your next two weeks of work may be somewhat uncomfortable and some tense situations and negative comments may arise that make you feel guilty. This may be more common if you didn’t have the best of relationships with your boss or direct report, so it’s important that you strive to maintain a positive attitude, even if the environment isn’t ideal.
Accept your resignation with joy. The most common reaction is for your boss to accept your resignation, understand the reasons that led you to make that decision, and congratulate you, especially if you have built a healthy bond together. No matter where you go or what the reason is that drives you to change, he will be happy that you are growing and advancing in your professional career, taking a sabbatical year, or deciding to try your luck in that venture that you are so passionate about, and he will probably be an active part of organizing your farewell activities.
Every job and every relationship is unique, but every time we are faced with the situation of announcing a resignation we have to anticipate what may happen by reading the signs, and thus have the best possible conversation. We must not lose sight of the fact that connections are the basis of networking and professional relationships that will allow you to grow throughout your career.