Stuck in a Job with No Growth: How to Handle an Employer Rejecting Your Resignation

My employer is not accepting my resignation as I have cited frustration and lack of growth as reasons for leaving the job. They are requesting me to change the reason, but I do not want to as my reasons are true. What should I do?

This needs a detailed investigation into the reasons for your frustration and lack of career growth. It may be necessary to consider your tenure, performance, your approach to career advancement, and the response you have received.

Providing honest and straightforward feedback can help employers validate and adjust their culture as needed. However, it appears that your employer is not receptive to your feedback, and many companies may take time to evolve and treat employees fairly. Unfortunately, there may be limitations if the management is poor.

You need to decide what you want—a smooth exit. If so, consider changing the reason to seeking better prospects and move forward with the relief of leaving a challenging company behind.

Even if you believe your feedback could bring about positive changes in your current company, you may have already realized the situation. If you have confidence in your Managing Director or the top officials of your company, you could have reached out to them for a resolution. It appears there may be issues with the management, in my opinion.

Therefore, navigate wisely for a smooth exit and concentrate on your career.

Regards, Thiyagu

Understanding Employment Contracts and Resignation

Basically, employment is a contract and it remains in force only as long as the parties are willing. As such, either of the parties can terminate the contract by strictly observing the specific terms of the contract, if any, relating to its foreclosure or exit. Resignation is the mode of terminating the employment contract at the option of the employee as a party to it. Therefore, it is the independent decision of the employee based on their own discretion.

Conditions for Accepting Resignation

When the resignation is in writing, conforms to the conditions of exit, and complies with the organizational protocol of communication, and no disciplinary action for any misconduct is pending against the resignee, the employer has no choice other than accepting the resignation. When the resignation meets all the above aspects, I don't think that the employer can have the prerogative, if any, to take exception to the reasons for resignation mentioned by the employee and refuse to accept it on that score and direct the employee formally to change the reasons. If the employer has any discomfiture about the reasons cited, why not try to take some remedial measures, counsel the employee personally, and request them to stay on? In the absence of any such positive gestures, it would automatically imply that the resignation is acceptable to the employer but for the reasons. No other individual, whether it be an organization or an employer, has the right to ask any other individual to change the reasoning for a lawful decision taken by them.

Moving Forward After Resignation

The poster can simply walk away if their resignation is in order in all respects without waiting for a formal acceptance. After all, their skills and experience are going to accompany them always in the future, if not a positive reference from such an adamant employer.

Legality of Resignation as Termination

What I've mentioned in my previous post concerns the legality of a genuine resignation as a mode of termination of the employment contract by an employee and the employer's obligation to accept it without any subjective considerations. In case the employer refuses without valid reasons, the employee must make an appropriate decision.

I have no hesitation in supporting the alternatives suggested by our learned friend Thiagu. If the poster is not ready for a confrontation with the employer due to better job prospects, he can consider modifying the reasons as desired by the employer. For example:

"In light of personal/family matters, I regret to inform you that I am unable to continue my services in the organization. Despite finding my tenure here beneficial, I hereby submit my resignation effective from [Date] for your kind consideration."

Thank you.

My advice would be simple. Why are you being overly truthful in your reasons for exit? Do you think that by expressing your feelings, the company is going to become a better place to work for others? Change the reason and leave peacefully. Are you working for your future or to make your previous company a better place? Be practical - if you were not happy or found better prospects, just move on.

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I have corrected the spelling and grammar errors in your message and ensured proper paragraph formatting. The meaning and tone of your message remain unchanged.

Management's Approach to Employee Feedback

Further to the inputs provided by our friends, I opine that management should take feedback positively, understand it, and try to address related issues. Organizations are long-term entities where employees may come and go.

The Importance of Organizational Development

In the present competitive world, unless organizations focus on development, survival shall be difficult. They should be ready for change.

Upon reviewing your post, it is understood that management is not ready even to listen to or see a negative comment, leaving aside the change or correction part. Hence, it's better to keep yourself away from such unprofessional and even unethical organizations. Please think once again and act accordingly.

Thanks and regards,
kamesh333