Letter of Resignation for a Teen's Part-time Job

[Eliz]

A friend's son who is attending a local college recently accepted a part-time job.  It's just a job with nothing to do with his career plans.  The job was billed as having flexible hours for students.  The young man was clear about when he could work and his start date.  I saw the email he sent to one of the interviewers.  The information was clear.  Now that he's started, the supervisor is overbearing about his inability to work certain days / hours because of his school schedule.  He's been accused of putted his studies ahead of the job.  He's looking for advice about how to word his letter of resigation.  I'm for short and to the point with little detail but he wants to put in writing again that he was clear about his hours of availablity.  Suggestions anybody?

 

 

 

[SKL]

Dear boss,

 

As I had expressed in my initial communications with you, I am unavailable to work xxyy hours / days.  It has recently become clear that the staffing needs of ___ are incompatible with the availability I communicated to you.  Thus it appears this arrangement is not going to work out.  Accordingly please accept my resignation effective ___.

 

Best wishes,

 

[Aura]

I like SKL's letter. Gets the point across simply and without complaining. But I also agree with happysmileylady that it's not likely to make one bit of difference. At this point, unless the manager is new and willing to learning, he's not likely to change unless forced to from higher up.  

Edited August 31, 2016 by Aura

[SparklyUnicorn]

I never wrote letters for jobs like that.  A verbal "I'm quitting in a week or two" was usually what I did.  But either way just very matter of fact that XYZ will be my last day will be fine.

 

 

[redsquirrel]

A friend's son who is attending a local college recently accepted a part-time job.  It's just a job with nothing to do with his career plans.  The job was billed as having flexible hours for students.  The young man was clear about when he could work and his start date.  I saw the email he sent to one of the interviewers.  The information was clear.  Now that he's started, the supervisor is overbearing about his inability to work certain days / hours because of his school schedule.  He's been accused of putted his studies ahead of the job.  He's looking for advice about how to word his letter of resigation.  I'm for short and to the point with little detail but he wants to put in writing again that he was clear about his hours of availablity.  Suggestions anybody?

 

Oh dear, what a horrible thing. He is putting his future career ahead of his temporary 'earn cash for books and lunch' job.

 

If that's their problem then I'm glad he is getting out early.

[Tap]

SKLs letter works great.  I would cc the person above the managers head also.  That way they can have a dialog going forward on what the requirements and expectations are for the employee they hire.   Maybe the people who hired him thought that the position could be flexible, but in reality it can't.  OR maybe the boss is just a putz.    

[zoobie]

To Whom It May Concern:

 

Please let this letter serve as written notice that September 1, 2016 will be my last day of employment with XYZ.

 

Thank you,

Joe Smith

 

No point in putting anything else. If they care, they'll do an exit interview. More than likely, they don't care.

Edited August 31, 2016 by zoobie

[LucyStoner]

I've heard many people say that when they gave 2 weeks notice at jobs like that, they were just told to leave that day and written out of the schedule. If he needs those last two weeks of pay for something, he should keep that in mind.

 

I had someone tell me I was putting my education ahead of my (menial student) job and I was like "uh, you don't say!" The employers I worked for who were more flexible with and supportive of students seemed to get the most reliable and capable employees in return, no matter how menial or dull the job was.

[Harriet Vane]

My dd was similarly accused recently. She was working at a major clothing retail store. She worked all scheduled hours on time without complaint, stayed late when requested to do so, and willingly submitted to their idiotic "on call" system in which they schedule employees for a shift but you only actually come in if they call and say they need you. (Basically chaining the employee to the store for the day with no compensation.) She even worked when sick. She met all her sales goals and received lots of positive feedback on customer surveys. What's not to like? And yet, one of the middle managers said: "I question your commitment to this company." ???

 

Fortunately, dd's second job had no such questions about her commitment. They were delighted to get her all to themselves and offer her hours to cover what she would lose from not working for the clothing store. 

[redsquirrel]

My dd was similarly accused recently. She was working at a major clothing retail store. She worked all scheduled hours on time without complaint, stayed late when requested to do so, and willingly submitted to their idiotic "on call" system in which they schedule employees for a shift but you only actually come in if they call and say they need you. (Basically chaining the employee to the store for the day with no compensation.) She even worked when sick. She met all her sales goals and received lots of positive feedback on customer surveys. What's not to like? And yet, one of the middle managers said: "I question your commitment to this company." ???

 

Fortunately, dd's second job had no such questions about her commitment. They were delighted to get her all to themselves and offer her hours to cover what she would lose from not working for the clothing store. 

 

That is such stupid management speak.  It makes me crazy.

 

I worked at jobs like that and it was back in the 1990s..heck, my first job in the mid 1980s made me do that call in thing.  I always swore if my kid had a job like that I would tell them to quit and I would help them find a new job.  Such utter bull

 

Did they also expect her to work for free?  My mall jobs would always have in the 'rules' that I was supposed to be on the floor 15 mins before my actual scheduled shift started. But I only got paid from when the shift was scheduled to begin.  Ummmm... no. I will walk on the floor at 5pm on the dot and not before. I don't work for free.  Schedule me to work 4 times a week and that is 1 hour of free labor from me. I somehow doubt the same company would allow me to knock off 15 mins early every shift and call it even.

 

I was also told "I question your commitment to this company" and I told the district manager or whoever she was that I had as much commitment to the company as the company had to me.  I said it with big eyes and a very earnest expression, lol.  She looked very uncomfortable with that answer, but there was nothing she could really do about it.

[Cinder]

When ds1 worked in fast food he just verbally told his manager that X was his last day--it was a 2-week notice. She actually had put in her 2-week notice before he did! He was allowed to work the 2 weeks but during that time the new manager and the supervisor above her tried to convince him to stay. I'm thankful that he had the manager he did. She agreed that school came first and supported her workers' schedules, more than half of whom were college students.

 

 

[Closeacademy]

I think one of the big don't is to not show up on your workday and then text another employee to tell your employer that you found another job or quit.  As long as he tells them in person, it should be fine.

[KungFuPanda]

It won't matter. They know and don't care. Just give it verbally and save the effort. Unless he can get it to the manager's boss it won't make a difference.

[purplejackmama]

Oh dear, what a horrible thing. He is putting his future career ahead of his temporary 'earn cash for books and lunch' job.

 

If that's their problem then I'm glad he is getting out early.

Right?! I had to read this sentence like 3 times to make sure I was reading it right. What kid shouldn't do this?

 

Weird.

[Eliz]

Oh dear, what a horrible thing. He is putting his future career ahead of his temporary 'earn cash for books and lunch' job.

 

If that's their problem then I'm glad he is getting out early.

This attitude shocked me since this company actively recruits among students!  Weird but unfortunately not unusual I guess.  

 

I've passed along all your replies.  Thanks so much.  His mom really wants him to submit a letter of resignation rather than telling his boss verbally.  I feel sorry for him because he's a good kid and a hard worker.  He would have been an asset to this company but... their loss!  

[Katy]

My dd was similarly accused recently. She was working at a major clothing retail store. She worked all scheduled hours on time without complaint, stayed late when requested to do so, and willingly submitted to their idiotic "on call" system in which they schedule employees for a shift but you only actually come in if they call and say they need you. (Basically chaining the employee to the store for the day with no compensation.) She even worked when sick. She met all her sales goals and received lots of positive feedback on customer surveys. What's not to like? And yet, one of the middle managers said: "I question your commitment to this company." ???

 

Fortunately, dd's second job had no such questions about her commitment. They were delighted to get her all to themselves and offer her hours to cover what she would lose from not working for the clothing store. 

 

I'm under the impression there are rules stating that to be on-call they must pay you a partial salary for those hours because you are not otherwise available.  To the point that it is not profitable to put someone on call unless they make in excess of the salary requirement.  Perhaps someone here can speak to that better than I can.

It won't matter. They know and don't care. Just give it verbally and save the effort. Unless he can get it to the manager's boss it won't make a difference.

 

 

I'm sure you are right, and that the employer doesn't care and won't change and that a verbal resignation would be sufficient.  However, I would encourage him to write a profession resignation letter, worded like the earlier posters have suggested.  In this way,  he is modelling professional workplace behavior, even if the employer isn't.  This could be good experience for later in life, when he really does need to write a professional resignation letter.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Reported. 
 

zombie thread

[KungFuPanda]

On 8/31/2016 at 9:54 PM, KungFuPanda said:

It won't matter. They know and don't care. Just give it verbally and save the effort. Unless he can get it to the manager's boss it won't make a difference.

 

I’m just gonna quote my original advice from 4 years ago. I’m guessing this kid had graduated by now. 😴

[Jean in Newcastle]

The zombie thread walks yet again.  Is there a term for a double-zombie? 

[Katy]

55 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

The zombie thread walks yet again.  Is there a term for a double-zombie? 

I think the term is locked. 😂