How to resign from newly extended short term contract without burning bridges?

[Mikunia]

It's a long story but basically I've been working at a place on short term contracts for three years, they just said they will renew it another year but after that want to get someone else in.

I've had a lot of issues in this role recently as the person I report to has been bullying me and other people, and publicly undermining me. This has been verified by colleagues who are full time employed in the team, who have offered support around this.

During my summer holiday I realised I don't want to carry on in this role any more but I don't want to burn bridges and I know they will be angry that I'm leaving as they just extended the contract and they don't want to recruit at the moment.

I've a few things to finish up so I would like to leave between mid October and mid December, but probably sooner rather than later.

What's the best way to say it without making the person I report to angry? I'd like to get a reference from them in future so I need to leave on good terms.

How much notice do you need to give?

You don't need to say anything. Especially not to a bully boss.

You simply hand them your resignation letter which states you're giving them one month (or however much you need to give) notice as per your contract, and your final day at work will be XX date.

It’s perfectly reasonable to look for a different opportunity once they have told you this one is time limited. But it’s also sensible to preserve your relationships by pretending everything is on the best possible terms. Will you have something else to go to? If not, can you make a positive story out of a career break?

in your resignation letter (which you absolutely should not give in until the start of your contracted notice period) write something like, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work at x company, and want to thank you for all your support. I have now been offered an exciting role at y and will be leaving on z date.”

If you aren't breaking your contract they have nothing to be angry about.

But you should let them know asap.

How was the contract extended and were you consulted at all?

Ideally (for the purposes of being tactful) you'll have just received a top-dowm communication from them informing you of the extension, and you can reply to that saying

"Thank you for this email and apologies that I have taken a couple of days to consider how best to reply. Unfortunately I am not able to accept a contract extension of this length. I am able to accept an extention of up to 3 months (until end December) after which I will no longer be available, or of course I can just give notice as per the existing contract clause (insert clause number) to leave sooner if that works out better for project handover purposes. I have been very hapy with my work with (organisation name) and hope we will contintue to have a positive relationship as our paths diverge."

This firmly communicates that if they are unhappy about you leaving it's their own fault for keeping you on insecure short term contracts.
(I realise you want a sooner leaving date ideally but offering them 3 months puts the ball in their court and they will almost certainly accept your suggestion to leave sooner)

I don't have anything to go to in the same field, but I also run a business in a different area which I am going to switch my attention to.

I don't actually know what my notice period is because I've never had any paperwork stating it, but I'm hoping that when I get the new paperwork it will be on there, or it's a normal kind of opportunity to ask for it. I think it would look odd to ask now! However I'm paid monthly so I'm guessing a month.

So if I said how much I've enjoyed being in the team, thanks for all the support and opportunities, I've decided to leave to focus on my business, would that be ok? I think boss might well be annoyed whatever I say to be honest.

I've only had a verbal notice so far, I'm not expecting anything else till the paperwork is sorted (and even then might not get sent something unless I ask, the admin is terrible).

The contract isn't even a proper contract, it's all really woolly but that's been ok up to now.

At one point there was talk of making my role employed but clearly that's gone by the wayside.

Ok then it's even easier.

Similar to my above draft but you can edit to "further to our recent conversation in which you mentioned a contract extension" and obviously you can't refer to your existing contract but you can similarly phrase it in a way that makes it clear (politely) that you have no obligation to accept their kind offer. You don't need to tell them why, you are no longer available and have made no commitment to make yourself available.

I'm confused by not having a contract at all. How do you know what the end date of your current arrangement is and how would you prove they owe you if they decided not to pay you? Is it ckear who deals with your tax and NI?

If you don't have a written contract and are monthly paid then a month is reasonable notice.

I'm on the payroll for tax purposes now, I log my hours on their system each month. I used to invoice and do a tax return. And basically I had a contract for a year which ran out and wasn't officially renewed until HR emailed me a few months ago saying "here's your new contract" but it's not a proper contract it's just a letter saying you are doing x role till y date. Literally a paragraph. My boss wasn't aware of that but I told her about it, then she forgot and I reminded her recently, and she immediately said she would renew for a year and then find someone else.

It's actually a really big organisation so I've no idea why it's so disorganised on this but it's worked ok for me to to now, I don't have employment rights anyway so I didn't mind that there was only my rate on paper.

I have a catch up with my boss in as few weeks so I think I'll take your advice and say I can only extend for up to three months as I'm pursuing other opportunities.

I'm a bit scared of her because of the bullying, but I need to take a deep breath and do it.

Get your CV updated and out there. Presumably you do want a new position soon'ish, ie the Autumn. And then sow the seed,send boss an email sooner rather than later.