Resignation is the formal act of relinquishing or vacating one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or choosing not to seek an additional term, is not considered resignation.
When an employee chooses to leave a position, it is considered a resignation, as opposed to involuntary termination. Whether an employee resigned or was terminated is sometimes a topic of dispute, because in many situations, a terminated employee is eligible for severance pay and/or unemployment benefits, whereas one who voluntarily resigns may not be eligible. Abdication is the equivalent of resignation for a reigning monarch, pope, or holder of another similar position.
Political examples
A resignation is a personal decision to exit a position, though outside pressure exists in many cases. For example, Richard Nixon resigned from the office of President of the United States in August 1974 following the Watergate scandal, when he was almost certain to have been impeached by the United States Congress.[1]
Deliberate manoeuvre
Resignation can be used as a political manoeuvre, as in the Philippines in July 2005, when ten cabinet officials resigned en masse to pressure President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to follow suit over allegations of electoral fraud. Arroyo's predecessor, Joseph Estrada, was successfully forced out of office during the EDSA Revolution of 2001 as he faced the first impeachment trial held in the country's history.
In 1995, the British Prime Minister, John Major, resigned as Leader of the Conservative Party in order to contest a leadership election with the aim of silencing his critics within the party and reasserting his authority. Having resigned, he stood again and was re-elected. He continued to serve as prime minister until he was defeated in the 1997 elections.
However, ascertaining whether an employee had an intent to resign depends on all the circumstances. As noted by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, an employee's storming off may not legally be a resignation.[2]
When criticised
Although government officials may tender their resignations, they are not always accepted. This could be a gesture of confidence in the official, as with US President George W. Bush's refusal of his Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's twice-offered resignation during the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.[3]
However, refusing a resignation can be a method of severe censure if it is followed by dismissal; Alberto Fujimori attempted to resign as President of Peru, but his resignation was refused so that Congress could impeach him.[4]
Delivery
For many public figures, primarily departing politicians, resignation is an opportunity to deliver a valedictory resignation speech in which they can elucidate the circumstances of their exit from office and in many cases deliver a powerful speech which often commands much attention. This can be used to great political effect, particularly as, subsequent to resigning, government ministers are no longer bound by collective responsibility and can speak with greater freedom about current issues.[citation needed]
"Spending more time with family" is a common reason credited during public resignations,[5][6] especially as a euphemism when receding from scandal.[7]
Other organisations
In academia, a university president or the editor of a scientific journal may also resign, particularly in cases where an idea which runs counter to the mainstream is being promoted. In 2006, Harvard president Lawrence Summers resigned after making the provocative suggestion that the underrepresentation of female academics in math and science[8] could be due to factors other than sheer discrimination, such as personal inclination or innate ability.
In a club, society, or other voluntary association, a member may resign from an officer position in that organization or even from the organization itself. In Robert's Rules of Order, this is called a request to be excused from a duty.[9] A resignation may also be withdrawn.[10]
See also
- Lists of resignations
- Resignation from the British House of Commons
- Resignation from the United States Senate
- Request to be excused from a duty
- Resignation syndrome
- Dismissal (employment) § Changes of conditions
- Letter of resignation
- Resignation services
References
- ^ "The Last Hours of the Nixon Presidency". history.com. 8 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
- ^ McKechnie, Dave (January 19, 2017). "Indignation Not Resignation: An Employee Storming off Does Not Mean She Is Quitting". Mondaq Business Briefing. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018.
- ^ Shanker, Thom (4 February 2005). "Rumsfeld Says He Offered to Quit". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ^ Rotella, Sebastian (22 November 2000). "Peruvian Congress Rejects Fujimori's Resignation and Fires Him Instead". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ^ Daly, Kerry (1996). Families & Time: Keeping Pace in a Hurried Culture. SAGE Publications. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-4522-4888-2.
- ^ Friedman, Stewart D.; Greenhaus, Jeffrey H. (2000). Work and Family--Allies or Enemies?: What Happens When Business Professionals Confront Life Choices. Oxford University Press. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-19-802725-6.
- ^ Smith, Nick (2014). Justice through Apologies: Remorse, Reform, and Punishment. Cambridge University Press. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-139-86730-6.
- ^ Ceci, Stephen J.; Williams, Wendy M. (2011-02-22). "Understanding current causes of women's underrepresentation in science". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108 (8): 3157–3162. Bibcode:2011PNAS..108.3157C. doi:10.1073/pnas.1014871108. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 3044353. PMID 21300892.
- ^ Robert, Henry M.; et al. (2011). Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. pp. 289–292. ISBN 978-0-306-82020-5. (RONR)
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 18)". The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site. The Robert's Rules Association. Archived from the original on 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
Further reading
- "6 Questions to Ask Before You Quit". Vanna. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
- Barclay, Theo (February 5, 2018). Fighters And Quitters: Great Political Resignations. London: Biteback Publishing. ISBN 9781785903540.
- Frenchwood, Fancy (December 13, 2014). The Perfect Resignation Letter: I Fired My Boss. Infinite Momentum. ISBN 978-0578154640.
- Kumar, Harbans Lal; Kumar, Gaurav (2009). Law Relating to Resignation and VRS. Delhi: Universal Law Pub. Co. ISBN 978-8175347304.
- The Bird of Wifdom (January 1, 1755) Remarks on the Resignation of a Noble Lord [A satire on John Perceval, Earl of Egmont]
