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How to Write a Resignation Letter

Here’s what to say — and what to leave out.

Should you write a resignation letter? In most cases, quitting a job doesn’t require one. However, there are some situations in which you want to write one, the author explains in this piece. She outlines what those reasons are and offers advice for how to actually write one, including tips on what not  to say. The article also includes a template you can use with sample language.

You’ve made the decision to quit your job and you want to leave on a positive note. This starts with giving notice and letting people know in a professional way. So, do you need to send a resignation letter? If so, who do you send it to? And what do you say?

• Amy Gallo is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, cohost of the Women at Work podcast , and the author of two books: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) and the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict . She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics. Watch her TEDx talk on conflict and follow her on LinkedIn . amyegallo

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How to Write a Respectable Resignation Letter [+Samples & Templates]

Published: November 09, 2023

Even though millions quit their jobs every month, we understand that telling your boss that you're leaving the company is never an easy conversation. A respectful resignation letter can mean the difference between an awkward goodbye and a chance for a long-term professional connection.

But how do you write a good resignation letter? What should you include and exclude? Let's dive in.

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What is a resignation letter.

A resignation letter is a formal document that lets your employer know that you are resigning from your position. It can be submitted either by email or printed letter.

It lets you officially announce your departure from the company and offers essential housekeeping information, like your last day and other details about your exit. Ideally, you'll submit your resignation letter at least two weeks before leaving the company.

An effective one helps you ensure a positive conversation with your boss and a smooth transition to your next journey.

5 Free Resignation Letter Templates

Resign with grace and formality with these five templates.

• General Resignation
• Taking a New Opportunity
• Formal Resignation

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

How to Write a Professional Resignation Letter

Your resignation letter should be brief and only include relevant and helpful information. Don't focus on the advantages of your next role. Instead, take the time to reflect on any appreciation you feel for the company you're leaving behind.

Your resignation letter should effectively convey your appreciation, professionalism, and willingness to assist in the transition process. Remember to keep it brief and focused on the relevant details.

With this in mind, here's the ideal resignation letter format.

Resignation Letter Format

The letter should be detailed but brief. Inform your manager of your decision, but keep it professional if the reasons are less positive.

The format of a resignation letter typically goes as follows:

Date and Salutation

Your letter should start with the date along with a formal salutation to your manager. Nothing too complicated here — you simply want to provide a filing date for HR, and to greet your manager courteously.

Although this step is simple, it effectively sets the tone for a professional and respectful letter, which is what you always want in your resignation.

A Statement of Resignation

Use the opening paragraph to state what role you're leaving, and when. This is known as a statement of resignation. Like the greeting, it doesn't have to be complicated at all. It's simply meant to provide your employer with the necessary information surrounding your departure.

No need to gush, like in this example: "I'm so sorry, but I'm resigning from the position of [job title] in two weeks, although it's been a true pleasure working with you all. I know this is the worst, but I promise, I wouldn't if I didn't have to." You can be corporate and cold here. Leave the emotions for when it's time to talk face-to-face with your manager!

Example: I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Position Name] for [Company Name], effective [Date].

Don't forget your date of leaving — the more exact, the better, because that gives your employer a timeline to work with. They can start planning for your departure by locating a replacement, for instance.

Body Paragraph

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You should use the body paragraph (singular! Not plural. We want the letter to stay short) to express gratitude for your time at the company, as well as share your exit plan.

I highly recommend lingering on your gratitude. Take the opportunity to reflect on your time at the company and express your appreciation for the experiences you've had. Highlight any professional development or growth you achieved while there.

Even if you have negative reasons for leaving, be as specific and genuine as you can. I'm sure you can find at least one good thing about the job. For example, you can thank them for the valuable training, supportive team environment, or work experience.

As for the exit plan, focus on making the transition easier. It's less about you leaving and more about what happens after you leave. Offer to train your replacement and ensure that all your responsibilities are properly handed over. You can even outline your projects and tasks so your successor has an easier time picking up the slack.

Closing Paragraph

Although optional, you can use the closing paragraph to list your contact information. I specially recommend it if you plan to use your former manager as a reference. Thank them for the opportunity to work at the company and express your interest in staying in touch. Provide your email address or phone number, then sign your name.

In the next section, we'll go into more detail about these key elements and look at a few examples.

What do I include in a professional resignation letter?

• Statement of Resignation and End Date
• Transition Details
• Personal Contact Information

Writing a professional resignation letter starts with understanding each of its components.

Download the Templates Now

Sometimes the nature of your position merits a more specific letter of resignation when you leave. Below are a couple of templates that help these more dynamic roles make a graceful departure from the company.

1. General Resignation Letter Template

No matter what position you are resigning from, this template from HubSpot can help you communicate your departure with ease.

This resignation letter provides space for you to thank your manager, outline positive experiences from your time at the company, share your last day, and talk about why you decided to leave.

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Writing a resignation letter that’s effective and professional

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What’s a resignation letter?

What to include in a professional resignation letter, what to avoid in a resignation letter, 5 sample resignation letters, feel good about your decision.

You likely won’t stay in one job forever. Your career might plateau and you’ll be up for a new challenge to broaden your skills, or you might become dissatisfied with your work environment and want a change of scenery.

Regardless of how long you’ve been with your current company, you’ve decided now’s the time to quit your job. The first step to doing so effectively and professionally is to send your resignation letter.

Writing an effective resignation letter reduces the stress of breaking the news to your employer because it gives you time to say everything you’d like to say in a professional manner. It advises your direct or human resources (HR) manager of your decision to leave, provides them with notice to plan for your position, and ends your employment positively.

A resignation letter highlights your intention to leave the company. This letter should include your last day and how you’ll support the team through the transition process. You’ll typically send this message via email to your direct manager or an HR professional.

If you want to leave your job on good terms or ask your current employer for a letter of recommendation , handing in a letter of resignation is a simple way to show respect .

This formal notification informs your employer of your action plan while expressing consideration for the position that your departure places them in. Departing in such a respectful manner increases the chance they’ll write you a great reference letter.

Deciding to resign isn’t always easy, especially if you feel emotionally invested in your company, projects, and team members. The decision to move on likely developed as you assessed your career goals and determined that leaving was the right choice. 

Whether you accepted a job offer at a new company, are beginning your search , or are wanting to take time for yourself, you’ve decided to continue your development elsewhere. But knowing how to formalize this to your higher-ups and HR team can feel intimidating. After all, you want to leave on a good note .

Following these four steps will help you handle this difficult task and compose an effective resignation letter:

• State your intentions: After addressing the email to your manager (Dear [name]), state your intention to resign and departure date. Although giving two weeks’ notice is an accepted standard, you may provide more or less time or have a predetermined notice period in your contract to follow.
• Give a thoughtful thank you: Express gratitude for your experience at the company to set the tone for your future relationship. Discuss key lessons, great moments, and how they’ve helped you develop professionally . This will make the remainder of your time there amicable and leave your employer with a positive impression of you .
• Offer your assistance: Extending an offer to assist during the transition shows your employer you care about them and the company. Briefly mention your intention to wrap up current projects and your availability to train team members. 
• Sign off with your contact information: Finish the letter by sending your best wishes and extending a cordial invitation to keep in touch. This shows your manager you want to remain on good terms. If you’d like, you can add your personal contact information after your signature.

Consider a formal resignation letter your chance to put your best foot forward. Even if you feel excited to leave, you don’t want to seem too enthusiastic or behave informally.

To keep your letter professional, avoid the following:

• Extensive details about why you’re resigning
• Your future plans/where you’re going next
• Complaints about the company or team members
• The words “quitting” or “leaving”

Learning how to professionally quit a job is a valuable skill, and doing it the right way takes practice and planning. Using a resignation letter template makes it easier to keep your thoughts in order and express yourself respectfully.

Here are five resignation letter examples tailored to various scenarios. Fill in the blanks or use them as inspiration to draft your own letter. 

1. Standard resignation letter

Concise, professional, and respectful. This simple resignation letter covers all the basics when communicating your departure to HR or your manager.

Dear [manager’s name],

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from my position as [job title] with [company name]. My last day will be [date].

Thank you for your support during my time at [company name]. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside such a talented team. I’ve appreciated the opportunity to contribute to [mention two projects]. And I’ve learned so much about [mention focus areas of your role], knowledge that I’ll carry throughout my career. 

During my last [mention time left], I’ll do everything possible to make this transition as smooth as possible. Please let me know if there’s anything in particular I can do to support you and the team. 

I wish you and the company continued success and hope to stay in touch. 

Sincerely, 

[your name] [contact information]

2. Resignation letter with advance notice 

Finding your replacement can take time when you work in a specialized field. Giving more than two weeks’ notice is a thoughtful way of showing your employer you understand this challenge. Although this isn’t mandatory, it expresses your sympathy and allows adequate time to train team members or your replacement.

[date] 

Please accept this notice as my formal resignation from my position as [job title] with [company name], effective [final day]. I understand that preparing someone for this role will take time, so I wanted to provide as much notice as possible. 

It’s been a pleasure to learn from you and see the growth we’ve achieved in the [name of department]. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had during my [amount of time] at [company name], and I know I’ll bring these valuable learning experiences forward in my career. 

During the next [mention time left], I’m committed to wrapping up my duties and making this transition smooth. Please let me know how I can further assist you and the team throughout this period of time. 

I wish you the best and look forward to seeing the company’s continued growth.

3. Resignation letter to a mentor

A mentor-mentee relationship is extremely valuable, and breaking the news of your resignation to someone you respect is challenging. When addressing a letter to someone important, keep it professional and include a personal sentiment to make your departure more amiable. 

I’m writing to give my formal notice of resignation from my position as [job title] with [company name] on [last day of employment].

Thank you for your guidance and support during my time at [company name]. It’s been a wonderful experience working for such an exceptional leader, and I’ll carry the knowledge and lessons you’ve shared with me throughout my professional career. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to [list a couple of work accomplishments] and work alongside such an inspiring team. 

During my final [mention time left], I want to assist you throughout this transition. Please let me know what steps I can take to make this transition as smooth as possible. 

Thank you again for making my time at [company name] a great experience. I look forward to keeping in touch. 

Best regards, 

4. Resignation letter for a new job

If you’ve recently started a position and quickly realized it’s not the right fit, writing a resignation letter is still good practice. You may not have learned much from your role yet, but you can still thank your HR department or manager for their time during your onboarding .

Dear [HR employee],

I’m writing to give formal notification of my resignation from my position as [job title] with [company name], effective [end date]. I realize I’ve only been here a short while but I feel it’s best to pursue other opportunities. 

Although my time at [company name] was short, I appreciate the opportunity you’ve given me and the time you invested in my onboarding.

Please let me know if there’s anything I can do during the rest of my employment to ensure a smooth transition.

I wish you and the company continued success.

5. Resignation letter without notice

Sometimes life throws you a curveball. If you need to leave your role immediately, use this resignation letter example to model an appropriate message to your employer.

I regret to inform you that I must resign from my position as [job title] with [company name]. My last day will be [end date]. 

Due to unforeseen events, I can’t handle my role’s responsibilities at this time. I offer my sincerest apologies that I’m unable to provide two weeks’ notice because of circumstances requiring my immediate attention.

I’ll dedicate the rest of my time within the next few days to finishing my tasks and providing as much assistance as possible. 

Thank you for making my time at [company name] so impactful. It’s been a pleasure to learn so much under your leadership. And I wish you and the company continued success.

Deciding to quit your job is daunting, even when it’s the right choice. But offering a resignation letter can make you feel more at peace with your decision and optimistic about your future. You’ll leave on a good note and ensure you’ve retained healthy relationships with your coworkers. You never know when you’ll need to leverage this professional network .

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How to Write a Resignation Letter (+ Free Template!)

November 22, 2022

by Grace Pinegar

In this post

How to write a resignation letter, resignation letter template.

All good things must come to an end, and all bad things must come to an end quickly.

If you’re stuck at a job that doesn’t appreciate you for your skills and work ethic, or if you’re ready to take the plunge into a different career path, it’s time to write a resignation letter, which is just one of the many types of business letters.

What is a resignation letter?

A resignation letter is a document that formally ends an employee's relationship with a company. It usually includes the last day of work, a reason for leaving, and a rough transition plan.

But first, why is it important to write one? You are quitting, after all. Who needs ‘em!?

Just to be safe, I recommend you write a resignation letter no matter how formal or informal the job was.

My first job was as a hostess at a Mexican restaurant. I was 16 and picked up the role for some extra summer cash. Once the school year began, I became too busy with after-school theatre rehearsals and had to let go of my commitments to the restaurant and its customers.

My parents had me write and turn in a two-weeks notice letter. I had chosen to leave the company on my own volition and wanted to make sure we maintained a good relationship. As a teenager, I knew it was important to have viable references on my resume. Not only was a letter of resignation good professional practice, but it meant my hard-earned connections would be more likely to speak positively of my performance later on.

I went on to work at Sonic Drive-Thru the next summer (no, I did not rollerblade), and believe you me, that reference really meant something to my new manager.

The two-week notice rule is not always best practice for employees who are being mistreated. If you’re leaving a company that has not cared for your well-being, it’s likely your resignation will be immediate.

This is something worth thinking long and hard about. Do you need that reference later on? Or do you have a new job lined up and you’re all ready to walk out the door? While hate-quitting can feel great in the moment, you’re the only one who can judge whether it would come back to haunt you or not.

Either way, a letter is a good idea. It serves as an in-writing notice of why you are leaving and can also protect you in the event of untrue accusations or in the future when recruiting teams may reach out to use a previous company as a reference. I do not hope for this situation for anyone (I’ve certainly had my own negative experiences in a toxic work environment), but I know it happens, and it’s better to be prepared than penitent.

Once you're back on the job market, consider utilizing job search sites to find your next perfect march. 

So, if you’re ready to leave that old nine-to-five (or any other combination of hours; I understand the hustle takes many forms) behind, grab a cold brew or a glass of wine (depending on the circumstances) and learn how to resign with dignity.

1. Include an introduction

Any letter of resignation should begin with the date written and the address of the company at hand. The date on which the letter is written is especially important, as you’ll include your final employment date in this letter later.

Having the date written at the top of your resignation letter is a reliable reference for when you notified management of this change. Should there be any unfortunate discrepancies about your last day, you can reference the letter as proof of your due diligence.

If you are writing a resignation email, the timestamp is already included. However, if you want the date to stand out as an important aspect of your resignation, feel free to include it in the body of the email.

It is also recommended to include the name and address of the company in the header, regardless of whether it is an email or hard copy.

You are most likely handing this letter directly to the related personnel, so it can feel silly to include a mailing address. The address is a time-honored tradition of resignation letters that also serves to specify exactly which company you are leaving. Again, when it comes to leaving an organization , better to be specific than sorry.

When beginning a letter of resignation, keep things formal yet amicable. Even though you’re quitting, your letter of resignation can still sound like it’s coming from you.

Begin with a “Dear Mr./Ms./Mrs. BOSS NAME,” “Dear COMPANY NAME,” or even a “To whom it may concern” if you’re not sure who will be handling the letter.

If you know your boss or manager well, refer to them by their first name instead of their last.

2. State your objective

With a resignation letter, you’ll need to get right to the point. The first paragraph should clearly denote that you are leaving the organization.

Here are a few examples of how you can quickly and clearly state your objective:

• “I am writing today to inform you of my resignation as Project Manager at Logistics Company .”
• “It is with sorrow and gratitude that I submit my resignation as Project Manager at Healthcare Company .”
• “This letter serves as my formal resignation from Construction Company .”

It will probably feel unnatural to write a sentence this blunt and straightforward. You would never speak to a friend or family member this formally. However, it’s important not to mince words.

If you’ve come to the decision that you are leaving and cannot be convinced otherwise, your letter should make that clear. Otherwise, there may be some confusion as management tries to drum up ways to keep you around.

If it’s a higher salary or promotion you desire, you should have that conversation with your boss prior to a letter of resignation. Only submit a letter of resignation when you’re certain you’re ready to move on to other opportunities.

3. Set an end date 

After notifying management of your leave, you’ll need to clarify your final date of employment. The standard notice for most organizations is two weeks or more, depending on special circumstances. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long project, you may tell management you’ll stay with them to finish it out.

If, for some reason, you need to quit prior to two weeks in advance, outline that reason here. You don’t have to go into great detail. If, for example, you need to leave to care for an ailing relative, that’s private information that you don’t have to say explicitly. You could instead choose to tell your boss you are leaving prior to the standard two-week notice letter due to unforeseen emergency circumstances.

Regardless of the length of your notice, be sure to include an exact date for when your employment will end.

Providing this final date is important for many reasons. For one, it’s another way to definitively communicate to your management team that you are leaving. For another, it allows management to better prepare for your absence. With an exact date in mind, they can understand what work is possible to accomplish and what all will remain after you’re gone.

4. Offer a reason for your resignation (optional)

If you’ve worked at a company for years, it’s possible your managers and co-workers are more than just that. Perhaps they’re your friends, or they’ve watched your kids, or you co-own a sailboat (weirder things have happened).

If you want to let them know your next steps in life, include that in the next portion of your letter of resignation. Humans long for closure, and stating why you’re leaving lets your managers know if the working relationship is ending on a good note.

Some examples of ways to describe the next phase of your life are as follows:

• “Although I regret to leave this company, I look forward to my graduate program in finances at UNIVERSITY NAME.”
• “I feel it is best for my family and myself to accept my recent job offer out of state.”
• “After many enjoyable years at CURRENT COMPANY, I am leaving to pursue a full-time career in music."

Ideally, your company cares about you and is happy that you are taking your next steps in life. A corporation is not a person, so remember that quitting is not the same as a breakup. It’s easy to feel guilty leaving behind the projects you were passionate about and the people you grew to love. At the end of the day, however, we have to take care of our own best interests.

If the working relationship is not ending on a good note, you may choose not to go into extensive detail. That information may be better suited for an exit interview.

Some examples of ways you can communicate your leave without excessive detail are as follows:

• “After much consideration, I’ve decided to resign.”
• “For personal reasons, I have decided to leave my position at COMPANY NAME.”
• “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will no longer be at COMPANY NAME.”

Everyone’s relationship with co-workers and management is different, so adjust your letter of resignation accordingly.

5. Offer to assist in the transition

You do a lot for your company. When you’re gone, there will undoubtedly be a gap where your hard work once was. Although it’s not your responsibility to worry about the company after you’re gone, it’s a nice gesture to offer some help with the transition throughout the duration of your notice.

If the company is planning to hire a replacement, this offer might be impossible. The hiring process can take weeks to months, and you’re not going to stick around for that long.

But, if there are other employees on the team who could reasonably perform your job or parts of your job, managers may appreciate an offer to spend some of your final days at the company training those colleagues.

Offers to help train employees or otherwise aid in the transition could look as follows:

• “I understand the effect my leave may have on the graphic design team and offer to train the junior designers in how to fulfill some of my more complex responsibilities.”
• “I wish for the company’s continued success upon my leave and will make myself available to train my colleagues in preparation for this transition.”

Again, this step is optional. It’s a gesture that shows you’re willing to go out of your way to help with the difficulty of your leaving. This step is recommended mostly to employees whose specific roles and skills are difficult to replace.

If you’re working part-time in a role with a high turnover rate, there are likely frequent training sessions already set in place. In that case, it is not your responsibility to help the company adjust to your absence.

6. Reflect on your time and give thanks

An integral part of a letter of resignation is this next section wherein you thank the company for all that it has done for you. Even in my role as a teenage hostess, I was grateful to that restaurant for helping a young high-schooler build her resume and skills .

Additionally, this part of the resignation letter is great for maintaining that positive relationship we discussed. You get to reinforce your appreciation for the opportunity and end things on a good note, or, more literally, a good letter.

This section is an opportunity to get more specific with some of the things you have appreciated about this job. It also communicates to management that you’ve had a good experience and gleaned wisdom from the role.

Examples of ways to formally, yet genuinely, thank your manager or management team for the opportunity are as follows:

• “I want to thank you and all of Technology Company for the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing sales department. My experiences here have undoubtedly shaped me into an excellent communicator with improved critical thinking skills.”
• “I have genuinely enjoyed my time at Marketing Company and I thank you for trusting me to lead the research team. Not only have my problem-solving skills improved, but you’ve also helped me hone my ability to ask for the necessary tools to succeed.”
• “I am sincerely grateful for everything I’ve learned at Logistics Company . Most of all, I value the effort management exerts to ensure all employees are receiving proper training and abundant opportunities for professional development.”

Again, this section is not the place to air your list of complaints. Plus, with this screenshot-and-share internet and social media culture, you’ll want to be careful about what you put in writing. You do not want a moment of fury to be the letter that gets shared across all of Twitter, especially as you’re entering a difficult job market.

Regardless of your experience at work, it could make a huge difference in your professional relationship if you’re able to muster up some positive things to say about the role. At the end of the day, you never know when you’ll need to use a role, company, or manager as a reference to get another job .

7. Offer a polite outro

As with any essay or letter, you’ll want to end with a polite conclusion. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy or lengthy. It’s just a way of neatly wrapping up everything you’ve said.

If you had a closer relationship with your boss and/or colleagues, feel free to make this section slightly more personal. Keep it formal, though. Resignation letters are not the place to write an emotional poem about how the sun shines into the kitchen on Taco Tuesday. Although, that would make for a great goodbye email .

Examples of ways to formally, yet politely, conclude your letter of resignation are as follows:

• “I’m happy to discuss any additional questions or concerns you may have regarding my departure, and I am willing to hold off on telling other employees until you feel it is the right time.”
• “Thank you again for all you’ve done for me over the course of my three years at Sales Company . I hope to retain our amicable connection.”
• “I extend my best wishes to you and everyone at Advertising Company as you continue to impact consumers around the world positively.”

If you had previously offered to train colleagues or new employees, now would be an okay time to restate your intentions to do so.

8. Sign off at the end

This may seem obvious, but be sure to sign your name at the end.

This confirms you as the sender, confirms the end of your letter of resignation, and serves to make the letter more personal.

Be sure to end the letter with a closing greeting, such as, “sincerely,” “warmly,” “regards,” or something along those lines. The word you choose can, again, reflect the relationship you have with this company and its employees.  

Should you need it, here is our example of a fully completed resignation letter: 

Download the template here!

Moving on to bigger and better things

Change is scary, and leaving a place you’re comfortable at, or maybe just comfortably provided for at, can be scary. We all know how hesitant Pam was to leave Scranton and follow Jim’s new startup in The Office . Over time, we grow roots, and they get harder and harder to dig up.

But change can be really, really good. So good that it just made a writer use the word “really” twice in a professional article. Change means new faces, new friends, and new opportunities to explore.

If you feel like it’s time for something different, maybe lean into that feeling. Determine why you feel that way and if it’s time to pursue other interests. Then, when the time is right, and your path is moderately laid out (it will never be perfectly  laid out), write up one of these letters of resignation.

Am I encouraging everyone reading this to up and quit their jobs to pursue their bliss? Off the record, yes. On the record, no. I’m saying that you shouldn’t remain somewhere static simply because it’s comfortable.

If it’s time to go — and if you’re reading this far, it might be — you should be on your merry way. And, just like that, you’re off to find the next best thing.  

If you're on the fence about going or staying, consider if job burnout may be the issue and find out how address it before it's too late.

This article was originally published in 2018. The content has been updated with new information.

If you've decided to resign, the next step may seem daunting. Start getting acquainted with job search sites!

Grace Pinegar is a lifelong storyteller with an extensive background in various forms such as acting, journalism, improv, research, and content marketing. She was raised in Texas, educated in Missouri, worked in Chicago, and is now a proud New Yorker. (she/her/hers)

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How to Write a Resignation Letter (with Examples + Templates)

Arriving at a decision to quit your job takes a lot of consideration and introspection. When you have established roots in a company, resigning can often be difficult. You want to move on, but you also may have working relationships that you will miss. However, once you have made up your mind and informed your employer that you are quitting, next comes the task of submitting a formal resignation letter.

No matter the reason for your resignation, even if it was not under the best of circumstances, you need to know how to write a resignation letter without burning any bridges. You can never tell when you will encounter your employer or any of your colleagues in a different work situation. Always plan to leave on good terms and with a well-written resignation letter.

Recommended links:

• Our collection of 500+ professional resume examples .
• Our gallery of 20+ downloadable resume templates .
• Our cover letter examples
• What Is a Letter of Resignation?

A resignation letter is a formally written announcement of your intention to leave the company. Even if you have already verbally expressed your resignation, it is always professional to follow this up with a formal letter.

A resignation letter is not mandatory, but it is expected. It officially documents your resignation and provides a paper trail. It is considered a legal document, as the date of your resignation is the start of official notice to the company and becomes the basis for determining the last day of your employment.

Most companies require two weeks’ notice and the date on your letter shows compliance. The resignation letter will most likely end up with the human resources (HR) department and will form part of your permanent personnel records with them. You should also keep a copy of the letter for yourself, preferably duly acknowledged and stamped by the human resources department.

While you may usually communicate with your employer and colleagues through email, instant messages, or phone calls, you should print your resignation on bond paper and ensure it’s signed. An exception might be made here if you are stationed out of state or in another country.

• Tips for Writing a Resignation Letter

Address the Letter to the Right Person

Normally, you would address your resignation letter to your current line manager, direct supervisor, or HR department. Usually, you would formally address the person in question, but if you are familiar with them, you may soften the letter by addressing them by their given name. Most professionals agree that you should avoid using “to whom it may concern’, as it is considered outdated and impersonal.

Make the Opening Paragraph Brief and Straightforward

The first paragraph of your resignation letter should be short and straightforward. Your intention to resign should be in this paragraph. A typical opening paragraph can start with “Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation” or “Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from (company name)”.

Outline Key Dates

Make sure the letter is clear as to when your last day of work will be. Review your contract and make sure you observe the minimum period of advance notice you agreed to. Two weeks’ notice is standard.

Show Gratitude

Whether your reason for leaving your company is positive or negative, make your resignation letter one of gratitude. Even when some of your company experience may have been less than pleasant, think of what you have learned during your stay with the company, an instance when you truly enjoyed your work, or an opportunity to mentor someone in the company. Mention this memory and thank them for it.

The company invested in you, trained you, and spent time and money preparing you for your position. Leave the company in a way that they will still remember you with fondness.

Offer to Help

In some cases, your resignation may leave some projects unfinished. It may be a good idea to outline any work-in-progress programs and projects so that your employer knows exactly how to fill in the gaps until they can find your replacement. Offer to help with the transition by training your replacement or provide interim suggestions. This section of the letter could include:

• A list of projects in the works
• Important milestone deadlines of each project
• A list of tasks you can complete before the last day of your employment
• A list of your colleagues who can fill in for you in the interim

Your boss may decide to take on the transition themselves, but offering to help them during your remaining days with the company will be appreciated.

End Respectfully

End the letter with a simple and respectful goodbye. You can use the terms “sincerely”, “best regards”, or “thank you”, followed by your name.

• What to Avoid When Writing a Resignation Letter

Knowing what not to include in your resignation letter can be just as vital as what you do include. When writing your official resignation letter, avoid the following:

The Reason You Are Leaving

While you may feel the need to explain why you are resigning, it’s best to refrain from doing so. Even if your new employer is offering a better salary package or a better career opportunity, leave these details out of your resignation letter. Stay professional, positive and courteous.

What You Disliked About Your Job

A resignation letter is not the place for rants and grievances. Speaking poorly of the company you are leaving, including your work colleagues, reflects more on you than on them. It could also get to your new employer and could affect your prospects with them as well. Make sure you have let go of any anger while composing your letter. Let a friend review it before you submit your letter to make sure it is succinct and respectful.

Emotional Statements

A calm and professional tone in your letter is much better than an aggressive or emotional one. Phrases such as “I feel” or “I think” should only be used in a positive way.

Bragging About Your New Job

Boasting about your new position and increase in salary will not do your resignation letter any good. At best, it will just create animosity between you and your employer. Remember, you will likely stay in the same industry as your former company and professional circles can be quite small. Opt to stay on the good side of your old company. You never know when your paths will meet again.

Typos and Grammatical Errors

An unedited letter filled with typographical and grammatical errors reflects poorly on you. As this will be your last official act before moving to another company, make it look as professional and pleasant as possible.

• Types of Resignation Letters

Now that you know the basic elements of a resignation letter, let us look at different types of resignation letters

Basic Resignation Letter

Aside from the date and salutations, a basic resignation letter will have an opening sentence stating your intention to resign effective on a certain date. To make it look professional, consider adding a few sentences thanking the company and offering to help in the transition.

Short-Notice Resignation Letter

While you normally would give at least two weeks’ notice to your employer, there could be instances when short notice is necessary. This could take your employer by surprise, so consider talking to your immediate supervisor first and explaining the situation.

Once you get your supervisor’s approval, submit a formal resignation letter. Explain why you are resigning, but keep it general and short. Rather than lapse into a long detailed explanation, you can use “personal circumstances” or “family emergency” as reasons. Always add a paragraph expressing your gratitude to the company and thank them for understanding your situation.

Resignation Letter With a Reason for Leaving

This is similar to the short-notice resignation letter, but you do not have to speak with your employer first. While it is not always necessary to explain your reasons for leaving the company, you may want to do so, especially if you want to thank your employer and you have a good working relationship with them.

Some specific reasons for preparing a resignation letter with your reason for leaving may include your going back to school (for example, to take your MBA), maternity leave (when you and your spouse decide that you will not go back to work), relocation, or some personal or family reason.

• Sample Resignation Letter #1

To give you some idea of what a resignation letter looks like, here is a sample of a basic one:

Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]:

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as (position title) for the [Name of Company], effective [last day of work].

Thank you for the support and the opportunities that you have provided me during the last two years. I have truly enjoyed my stay with [Name of Company] and am more than grateful for the opportunities you have given that helped me achieve my professional and personal growth objectives.

If I can be of any assistance during this transition in order to facilitate the seamless passing of my responsibilities to my successor, please let me know. I would be glad to help in any way I can.

Your Signature

Your Typed Full Name

• Sample Resignation Letter #2

Here is another example of a resignation letter. This time, the letter contains a reason for leaving. Observe how one can word it without creating a negative response from the company you are leaving:

The purpose of this letter is to announce my resignation from [Company Name], effective two weeks from this date.

This was not an easy decision for me. The past 10 years have been very rewarding. I've enjoyed working for you and thank you for all the opportunities you sent my way. I am proud of how our production operations have expanded from a medium-sized local operation to one that is now global. I am also very proud to have managed a very successful, hard-working team dedicated to producing quality products on time.

I have accepted a position as [New Position Title] in [Location of New Company]. This opportunity gives me the chance to continue growing professionally while allowing me to relocate my family closer to the rest of our families.

I wish you and the company all the best. I do hope our paths cross again in the future.

• Sample Resignation Letter #3

Please accept this letter as my official resignation from PowerTrain Technologies. My last day of employment will be Friday, January 29. I will do everything I can to ensure that my projects are completed and my responsibilities are handed off before I leave.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to work at this company, and for the support you have given me as I learned and improved in my time here. My experience at this company has made me a better data analyst, and I will miss working with this team.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help the transition before my departure. I hope we can stay in touch.

Taylor Richards

• Sample Resignation Letter #4

Dear Mr. Steve Phillips,

Please accept this letter as formal notice that I am resigning from my position as Marketing Manager with Digital Dog Media. My last day will be Wednesday November 28th.

I’m grateful for having had the opportunity to work for this great team and company over the past 5 years. I appreciate the opportunities I’ve had to grow my digital marketing skills and look forward to taking what I’ve learned on to my next role as I build my career. This has truly been a stepping to stone.

I’ll do everything I can to wrap up my duties and train the team and answer questions over the next two weeks. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help pass along info during my transition.

I wish you all the best of luck in the company’s future success and hope we can stay in touch.

Brian O’Conner

Now that you have a proper resignation letter in your hand, here’s what happens next:

Prepare for a Counter Offer

Your company may not be ready to let you go, and might ask you what it will take for you to consider staying. You may get an offer for an instant promotion, or a raise. Whatever the counteroffer may be, be prepared to respond. It is wise to remind yourself why you wanted to resign in the first place, and whether accepting the counter-offer would eliminate those reasons.

Polish Your Resume

Some people that tender their resignation may already have another job, a career change, or a family responsibility waiting in the wings. However, others may be resigning without such an alternative. Maybe they want a short break from all the stressm, or want to travel first before buckling down to finding a new job.

This is the time to polish your resume, and we at VisualCV can help! We have 30+ resume templates to choose from, depending on your style so that you can create a job-ready resume in minutes. Start building your resume today for free using our resume builder .

Community Success Manager & CV Writing Expert

Ben is a writer, customer success manager and CV writing expert with over 5 years of experience helping job-seekers create their best careers. He believes in the importance of a great resume summary and the power of coffee.

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• Career Planning
• Leaving a Job

Sample Resignation Letter With a Reason for Leaving

BeeBright/Getty Images

When the time comes to resign from your position , you’ll want to write a resignation letter that provides a valid reason for your departure in addition to thanking your employer for the opportunities you have enjoyed.  

This is especially true if you’ve worked at the job for a long time and developed personal relationships, or if you have been given career development counseling and/or training, or become a respected team leader at the company.

Leaving Your Job With Diplomacy

In a work climate where people change jobs far more frequently than they did in earlier generations, it’s important to maintain a positive and supportive network of  professional references —which means that you should always part ways in as professional a manner as possible, and do your best to maintain a cordial relationship with them in case you might need them to serve as a reference for you in the future.    

Before you write  your resignation letter , think about how much information you want to include. Do you want to describe your new job or explain why you plan on leaving? Or do you want to keep your resignation letter short and sweet (or even maybe just send an email)? Also, keep in mind there are some things you just shouldn’t do , such as bragging about your new job or putting anything negative in writing.  

Resignation Letter Examples

A  well-written letter of resignation will lay the groundwork for this ongoing professional relationship. Use the following resignation letters as a model when you want to thank your employer and provide a reason for your resignation .

These letters provide a format that you should customize to your own personal situation. There’s one caveat, however. Keep in mind that any time you provide a reason for resigning from a job, this reason needs to be positive and reflective of your personal desire for a career change.  

Your letter should never, in any way, level criticism, blame your employer’s organization for your resignation, or explicitly compare the salary or benefits promised by a new employer to those they provided you as their employee. Even if you had issues with your employer, elevate the discourse and leave on good terms. It may be important in the future.

Letter of Resignation For a New Position Example (Text Version)

Your Name Your Address Your City, State Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email

Name Title Organization Address City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

The purpose of this letter is to announce my resignation from Company Name, effective two weeks from this date.

This was not an easy decision to make, on my part. The past 10 years have been very rewarding. I've enjoyed working for you, observing how our production operations have expanded, and managing a very successful team dedicated to a quality manufactured product delivered on time.

I have accepted a position as VP, Manufacturing for Land Lubber Industries in Watertown, West Virginia. This opportunity gives me the chance to grow professionally and will allow us to relocate just a few miles from our families.

I wish you and the company all the best. I do hope our paths cross again in the future.

Your Signature (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name

Letter of Resignation Without New Position Example (Text Version)

Dr. John Smith Reference Coordinator County Library System 101 Main Street Small Town, State Zip Code

I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Reference Librarian II for the County Library System. My last day with the library will be Saturday, June 30th.

Thank you for the professional and personal development you have assisted me with over the last five years. I consider just about everyone I have met here to be friends of mine now, and I will miss you all.

However, between my teaching load and writing work, my career has taken a different direction and I feel it is time to move on to new opportunities and challenges.

Please let me know if I can help in any way to assist you in hiring and/or training my replacement before my departure.

Please keep in touch. I can be reached via email at yourname@email.com.

Firstname Lastname

LeadX.org. " How To Write A Resignation Letter That Won’t Burn Bridges ." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Employee Tenure in 2018 ." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

Gallup. " Millennials: The Job-Hopping Generation ." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

Harvard Business Review. " How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges ." Accessed Jan. 14, 2020.

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An NPR editor who wrote a critical essay on the company has resigned after being suspended

FILE - The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) stands on North Capitol Street on April 15, 2013, in Washington. A National Public Radio editor who wrote an essay criticizing his employer for promoting liberal reviews resigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, a day after it was revealed that he had been suspended. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

• Copy Link copied

NEW YORK (AP) — A National Public Radio editor who wrote an essay criticizing his employer for promoting liberal views resigned on Wednesday, attacking NPR’s new CEO on the way out.

Uri Berliner, a senior editor on NPR’s business desk, posted his resignation letter on X, formerly Twitter, a day after it was revealed that he had been suspended for five days for violating company rules about outside work done without permission.

“I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems” written about in his essay, Berliner said in his resignation letter.

Katherine Maher, a former tech executive appointed in January as NPR’s chief executive, has been criticized by conservative activists for social media messages that disparaged former President Donald Trump. The messages predated her hiring at NPR.

NPR’s public relations chief said the organization does not comment on individual personnel matters.

The suspension and subsequent resignation highlight the delicate balance that many U.S. news organizations and their editorial employees face. On one hand, as journalists striving to produce unbiased news, they’re not supposed to comment on contentious public issues; on the other, many journalists consider it their duty to critique their own organizations’ approaches to journalism when needed.

In his essay , written for the online Free Press site, Berliner said NPR is dominated by liberals and no longer has an open-minded spirit. He traced the change to coverage of Trump’s presidency.

“There’s an unspoken consensus about the stories we should pursue and how they should be framed,” he wrote. “It’s frictionless — one story after another about instances of supposed racism, transphobia, signs of the climate apocalypse, Israel doing something bad and the dire threat of Republican policies. It’s almost like an assembly line.”

He said he’d brought up his concerns internally and no changes had been made, making him “a visible wrong-thinker at a place I love.”

In the essay’s wake, NPR top editorial executive, Edith Chapin, said leadership strongly disagreed with Berliner’s assessment of the outlet’s journalism and the way it went about its work.

It’s not clear what Berliner was referring to when he talked about disparagement by Maher. In a lengthy memo to staff members last week, she wrote: “Asking a question about whether we’re living up to our mission should always be fair game: after all, journalism is nothing if not hard questions. Questioning whether our people are serving their mission with integrity, based on little more than the recognition of their identity, is profoundly disrespectful, hurtful and demeaning.”

Conservative activist Christopher Rufo revealed some of Maher’s past tweets after the essay was published. In one tweet, dated January 2018, Maher wrote that “Donald Trump is a racist.” A post just before the 2020 election pictured her in a Biden campaign hat.

In response, an NPR spokeswoman said Maher, years before she joined the radio network, was exercising her right to express herself. She is not involved in editorial decisions at NPR, the network said.

The issue is an example of what can happen when business executives, instead of journalists, are appointed to roles overseeing news organizations: they find themselves scrutinized for signs of bias in ways they hadn’t been before. Recently, NBC Universal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde has been criticized for service on paid corporate boards.

Maher is the former head of the Wikimedia Foundation. NPR’s own story about the 40-year-old executive’s appointment in January noted that she “has never worked directly in journalism or at a news organization.”

In his resignation letter, Berliner said that he did not support any efforts to strip NPR of public funding. “I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism,” he wrote.

David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder

Watch CBS News

Uri Berliner, NPR editor who criticized the network of liberal bias, says he's resigning

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

April 17, 2024 / 12:21 PM EDT / CBS News

Uri Berliner, a senior editor at National Public Radio who had been suspended from his job after claiming the network had "lost America's trust" by pushing progressive views while suppressing dissenting opinions, said he is resigning from the broadcaster.

"I am resigning from NPR, a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years," Berliner wrote in his resignation letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher, and which he posted in part on X, the former Twitter. "I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite in my Free Press essay."

My resignation letter to NPR CEO @krmaher pic.twitter.com/0hafVbcZAK — Uri Berliner (@uberliner) April 17, 2024

Berliner's resignation comes eight days after he published an  essay  in the Free Press that caused a firestorm of debate with his allegations that NPR was suppressing dissenting voices. In response to his critique, some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, called on the government to "defund" the organization. 

Maher, who became NPR's CEO in March, wrote a staff memo a few days after publication of Berliner's essay addressing his criticisms of the organization's editorial process. Among Berliner's claims are that NPR is failing to consider other viewpoints and that it is fixated on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

"Questioning whether our people are serving our mission with integrity, based on little more than the recognition of their identity, is profoundly disrespectful, hurtful and demeaning," Maher wrote. 

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues also took issue with the essay, with "Morning Edition" host Steve Inskeep  writing on his Substack  that the article was "filled with errors and omissions."

"The errors do make NPR look bad, because it's embarrassing that an NPR journalist would make so many," Inskeep wrote.

Berliner's suspension, which occurred Friday, was  reported  by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik. NPR declined to comment to CBS News about Berliner's resignation. "NPR does not comment on individual personnel matters," a spokesperson said.

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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Turmoil at NPR after editor rips network for political bias

The public radio network is being targeted by conservative activists over the editor’s essay, which many staffers say is misleading and inaccurate.

Uri Berliner had worked at NPR for a quarter-century when he wrote the essay that would abruptly end his tenure. On April 9, the Free Press published 3,500 words from Berliner, a senior business editor, about how the public radio network is guilty of journalistic malpractice — for conforming to a politically liberal worldview at the expense of fairness and accuracy.

“It’s true NPR has always had a liberal bent, but during most of my tenure here, an open-minded, curious culture prevailed,” Berliner wrote. “We were nerdy, but not knee-jerk, activist, or scolding. In recent years, however, that has changed.”

The essay, whose arguments were disputed by NPR management and many staffers, plunged the network into a week-long public controversy.

Last week NPR’s new CEO, Katherine Maher, indirectly referenced Berliner’s essay in a note to staff that NPR also published online. “Asking a question about whether we’re living up to our mission should always be fair game: after all, journalism is nothing if not hard questions,” she wrote. “Questioning whether our people are serving our mission with integrity, based on little more than the recognition of their identity, is profoundly disrespectful, hurtful, and demeaning.”

The drama reached a pinnacle Wednesday, when Berliner resigned while taking a shot at Maher.

In his resignation letter, Berliner called NPR “a great American institution” that should not be defunded. “I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism,” he wrote in the letter, posted on his X account. “But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems I cite in my Free Press essay.”

Berliner’s comments have angered many of his now-former colleagues, who dismissed as inaccurate his depiction of their workplace and who say his faulty criticisms have been weaponized against them.

Berliner’s essay is titled “ I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust .” On its face, it seemed to confirm the worst suspicions held by NPR’s critics on the right: that the legendary media organization had an ideological, progressive agenda that dictates its journalism. The Free Press is an online publication started by journalist Bari Weiss, whose own resignation from the New York Times in 2020 was used by conservative politicians as evidence that the Times stifled certain ideas and ideologies; Weiss accused the Times of catering to a rigid, politically left-leaning worldview and of refusing to defend her against online “bullies” when she expressed views to the contrary. Berliner’s essay was accompanied by several glossy portraits and a nearly hour-long podcast interview with Weiss. He also went on NewsNation, where the host Chris Cuomo — who had been cast out from CNN for crossing ethical lines to help his governor-brother — called Berliner a “whistleblower.”

Initially, Berliner was suspended for not getting approval for doing work for another publication. NPR policy requires receiving written permission from supervisors “for all outside freelance and journalistic work,” according to the employee handbook.

An NPR spokeswoman said Wednesday that the network does not comment on personnel matters. Berliner declined The Washington Post’s request for further comment.

In an interview Tuesday with NPR’s David Folkenflik — whose work is also criticized in the Free Press essay — Berliner said “we have great journalists here. If they shed their opinions and did the great journalism they’re capable of, this would be a much more interesting and fulfilling organization for our listeners.”

Berliner’s future at NPR became an open question. NPR leaders were pressed by staff in meetings this week as to why he was still employed there. And some reporters made clear they didn’t want to be edited by Berliner anymore because they now questioned his journalistic judgment, said one prominent NPR journalist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve relationships. “How are you supposed to have honest debates about coverage if you think it’s going to be fodder for the point he’s trying to make?” the staffer said.

Berliner had written that “there’s an unspoken consensus” about stories to pursue at NPR — “of supposed racism, transphobia, signs of the climate apocalypse, Israel doing something bad, and the dire threat of Republican policies” — and that the network operated without friction, “almost like an assembly line.”

Several prominent NPR journalists countered that impression. “We have strong, heated editorial debates every day to try and get the most appropriate language and nuanced reporting in a landscape that is divisive and difficult to work in as a journalist,” Leila Fadel, host of “Morning Edition,” told The Post. “Media and free independent press are often under attack for the fact-based reporting that we do.” She called Berliner’s essay “a bad-faith effort” and a “factually inaccurate take on our work that was filled with omissions to back his arguments.”

Other staffers noted that Berliner did not seek comment from NPR for his piece. No news organization is above reproach, “Weekend Edition” host Ayesha Rascoe told The Post, but someone should not “be able to tear down an entire organization’s work without any sort of response or context provided, or pushback.” There are many legitimate critiques to make of NPR’s coverage, she added, “but the way this has been done — it’s to invalidate all the work NPR does.”

NPR is known to have a very collegial culture, and the manner in which Berliner aired his criticism — perhaps even more than the substance of it — is what upset so many of his co-workers, according to one staffer.

“Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep, writing on his Substack on Tuesday , fact-checked or contextualized several of the arguments Berliner made. For instance: Berliner wrote that he once asked “why we keep using that word that many Hispanics hate — Latinx.” Inskeep said he searched 90 days of NPR’s content and found “Latinx” was used nine times — “usually by a guest” — compared to the nearly 400 times “Latina” and “Latino” were used.

“This article needed a better editor,” Inskeep wrote. “I don’t know who, if anyone, edited Uri’s story, but they let him publish an article that discredited itself. … A careful read of the article shows many sweeping statements for which the writer is unable to offer evidence.”

This week conservative activist Christopher Rufo — who rose to fame for targeting “critical race theory,” and whose scrutiny of Harvard President Claudine Gay preceded her resignation — set his sights on Maher, surfacing old social media posts she wrote before she joined the news organization. In one 2020 tweet, she referred to Trump as a “deranged racist.” Others posts show her wearing a Biden hat, or wistfully daydreaming about hanging out with Kamala D. Harris. Rufo has called for Maher’s resignation.

“In America everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen,” Maher wrote in a statement to The Post, when asked about the social media posts. “What matters is NPR’s work and my commitment as its CEO: public service, editorial independence, and the mission to serve all of the American public.”

Maher, who started her job as NPR CEO last month, previously was the head of the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that operates the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. An NPR spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday that Maher “was not working in journalism at the time” of the social media posts; she was “exercising her first amendment right to express herself like any other American citizen,” and “the CEO is not involved in editorial decisions.”

In a statement, an NPR spokesperson described the outcry over Maher’s old posts as “a bad faith attack that follows an established playbook, as online actors with explicit agendas work to discredit independent news organizations.”

Meanwhile, some NPR staffers want a more forceful defense of NPR journalism by management. An internal letter — signed by about 50 NPR staffers as of Wednesday afternoon — called on Maher and NPR editor in chief Edith Chapin to “publicly and directly” call out Berliner’s “factual inaccuracies and elisions.”

In the essay, Berliner accuses NPR of mishandling three major stories: the allegations of the 2016 Trump campaign’s collusion with Russia, the origins of the coronavirus , and the authenticity and relevance of Hunter Biden’s laptop. Berliner’s critics note that he didn’t oversee coverage of these stories. They also say that his essay indirectly maligns employee affinity groups — he name-checks groups for Muslim, Jewish, queer and Black employees, which he wrote “reflect broader movement in the culture of people clustering together based on ideology or a characteristic at birth.” (Berliner belonged to the group for Jewish employees, according to an NPR staffer with knowledge of membership.) He also writes that he found NPR’s D.C. newsroom employed 87 registered Democrats and zero Republicans in editorial positions in 2021. His critics say this figure lacks proper context.

Tony Cavin, NPR’s managing editor of standards and practices, told The Post that “I have no idea where he got that number,” that NPR’s newsroom has 660 employees, and that “I know a number of our hosts and staff are registered as independents.” That includes Inskeep, who, on his Substack, backed up Cavin’s assessment.

Berliner also wrote that, during the administration of Donald Trump , NPR “hitched our wagon” to top Trump antagonist Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) by interviewing him 25 times about Trump and Russia. Cavin told The Post NPR aired 900 interviews with lawmakers during the same period of time, “so that’s 3 percent. He’s a business reporter, he knows about statistics and it seems he’s selectively using statistics.”

Cavin said some inside the organization agree with points Berliner made, even if they “don’t like the way he went about it. The irony of this is it tells you how diverse as an organization we are, in ideological terms.”

“There are a few bits of truth in this,” NPR international correspondent Eyder Peralta wrote on Facebook. But he said the essay “uses a selecting reading to serve the author’s own world views” and paints with “too broad a brush.”

“I have covered wars, I have been thrown in jail for my work,” Peralta told The Post, “and for him to question part of what is in our nature, which is intellectual curiosity and that we follow our noses where they lead us, that hurts. And I think that damages NPR.”

Some staffers have also been attacked online since the essay’s publication. Rascoe, who, as a Black woman host for NPR, says she’s no stranger to online vitriol, but one message after Berliner’s essay labeled her as a “DEI hire” who has “never read a book in her life.”

“What stung about this one was it came on the basis of a supposed colleague’s op-ed,” whose words were “being used as fodder to attack me,” Rascoe said. “And my concern is not about me, but all the younger journalists who don’t have the platform I have and who will be attacked and their integrity questioned simply on the basis of who they are.”

NPR, like much of the media industry, has struggled in recent years with a declining audience and a tough ad market. NPR laid off 100 workers in 2023, one of its largest layoffs ever , citing fewer sponsorships and a projected $30 million decline in revenue.

Going forward, some staffers worry about the ramifications of Berliner’s essay and the reactions to it. The open letter to Maher and Chapin said that “sending the message that a public essay is the easiest way to make change is setting a bad precedent, regardless of the ideologies being expressed.”

An earlier version of this article included a reference to Uri Berliner's Free Press essay in which Berliner cited voter registration data for editorial employees of NPR's D.C. newsroom. The article has been updated to clarify that this data was from 2021, not the present day.

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NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns after essay accusing outlet of liberal bias

A senior business editor at National Public Radio has resigned after writing an essay for an online news site published last week accusing the outlet of a liberal bias in its coverage.

In a Wednesday post on X , Uri Berliner included a statement in what he said was his resignation letter to NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher.

"I am resigning from NPR, a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years," Berliner wrote in the post. "I don't support calls to defund NPR. I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism. But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite in my Free Press essay."

On Friday, Berliner was suspended for five days without pay, NPR confirmed Tuesday , a week after his essay in the Free Press, an online news publication, where he argued the network had "lost America's trust" and allowed a "liberal bent" to influence its coverage, causing the outlet to steadily lose credibility with audiences.

Berliner's essay also angered many of his colleagues and exposed Maher, who started as NPR's CEO in March, to a string of attacks from conservatives over her past social media posts.

Dig deeper: NPR suspends senior editor Uri Berliner after essay accusing outlet of liberal bias

NPR reported that the essay reignited the criticism that many prominent conservatives have long leveled against NPR and prompted newsroom leadership to implement monthly internal reviews of the network's coverage.

Neither NPR nor Maher have not yet publicly responded to Berliner's resignation, but Maher refuted his claims in a statement Monday to NPR.

"In America everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen," Maher said. "What matters is NPR's work and my commitment as its CEO: public service, editorial independence, and the mission to serve all of the American public. NPR is independent, beholden to no party, and without commercial interests."

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY.

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NPR editor Uri Berliner resigns with blast at new CEO

David Folkenflik

Uri Berliner resigned from NPR on Wednesday saying he could not work under the new CEO Katherine Maher. He cautioned that he did not support calls to defund NPR. Uri Berliner hide caption

Uri Berliner resigned from NPR on Wednesday saying he could not work under the new CEO Katherine Maher. He cautioned that he did not support calls to defund NPR.

NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner resigned this morning, citing the response of the network's chief executive to his outside essay accusing NPR of losing the public's trust.

"I am resigning from NPR, a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years," Berliner wrote in an email to CEO Katherine Maher. "I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism. But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite in my Free Press essay."

NPR and Maher declined to comment on his resignation.

The Free Press, an online site embraced by journalists who believe that the mainstream media has become too liberal, published Berliner's piece last Tuesday. In it, he argued that NPR's coverage has increasingly reflected a rigid progressive ideology. And he argued that the network's quest for greater diversity in its workforce — a priority under prior chief executive John Lansing – has not been accompanied by a diversity of viewpoints presented in NPR shows, podcasts or online coverage.

Later that same day, NPR pushed back against Berliner's critique.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff . "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

Yet Berliner's commentary has been embraced by conservative and partisan Republican critics of the network, including former President Donald Trump and the activist Christopher Rufo.

Rufo is posting a parade of old social media posts from Maher, who took over NPR last month. In two examples, she called Trump a racist and also seemed to minimize the effects of rioting in 2020. Rufo is using those to rally public pressure for Maher's ouster, as he did for former Harvard University President Claudine Gay .

Others have used the moment to call for the elimination of federal funding for NPR – less than one percent of its roughly $300 million annual budget – and local public radio stations, which derive more of their funding from the government.

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

Berliner reiterated in his resignation letter that he does not support such calls.

In a brief interview, he condemned a statement Maher issued Friday in which she suggested that he had questioned "whether our people are serving our mission with integrity, based on little more than the recognition of their identity." She called that "profoundly disrespectful, hurtful, and demeaning."

Berliner subsequently exchanged emails with Maher, but she did not address those comments.

"It's been building up," Berliner said of his decision to resign, "and it became clear it was on today."

For publishing his essay in The Free Press and appearing on its podcast, NPR had suspended Berliner for five days without pay. Its formal rebuke noted he had done work outside NPR without its permission, as is required, and shared proprietary information.

(Disclosure: Like Berliner, I am part of NPR's Business Desk. He has edited many of my past stories. But he did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Earlier in the day, Berliner forwarded to NPR editors and other colleagues a note saying he had "never questioned" their integrity and had been trying to raise these issues within the newsroom for more than seven years.

What followed was an email he had sent to newsroom leaders after Trump's 2016 win. He wrote then: "Primarily for the sake of our journalism, we can't align ourselves with a tribe. So we don't exist in a cocoon that blinds us to the views and experience of tens of millions of our fellow citizens."

Berliner's critique has inspired anger and dismay within the network. Some colleagues said they could no longer trust him after he chose to publicize such concerns rather than pursue them as part of ongoing newsroom debates, as is customary. Many signed a letter to Maher and Edith Chapin, NPR's chief news executive. They asked for clarity on, among other things, how Berliner's essay and the resulting public controversy would affect news coverage.

Yet some colleagues privately said Berliner's critique carried some truth. Chapin also announced monthly reviews of the network's coverage for fairness and diversity - including diversity of viewpoint.

She said in a text message earlier this week that that initiative had been discussed long before Berliner's essay, but "Now seemed [the] time to deliver if we were going to do it."

She added, "Healthy discussion is something we need more of."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

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Guest Essay

Liz Cheney: The Supreme Court Should Rule Swiftly on Trump’s Immunity Claim

By Liz Cheney

Ms. Cheney, a Republican, is a former U.S. representative from Wyoming and was vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 select committee in the House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Donald Trump’s arguments that he is immune from prosecution for his efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election. It is likely that all — or nearly all — of the justices will agree that a former president who attempted to seize power and remain in office illegally can be prosecuted. I suspect that some justices may also wish to clarify whether doctrines of presidential immunity might apply in other contexts — for example, to a president’s actions as commander in chief during a time of war. But the justices should also recognize the profoundly negative impact they may have if the court does not resolve these issues quickly and decisively.

If delay prevents this Trump case from being tried this year, the public may never hear critical and historic evidence developed before the grand jury, and our system may never hold the man most responsible for Jan. 6 to account.

The Jan. 6 House select committee’s hearings and final report in 2022 relied on testimony given by dozens of Republicans — including many who worked closely with Mr. Trump in the White House, in his Justice Department and on his 2020 presidential campaign. The special counsel Jack Smith’s election-related indictment of Mr. Trump relies on many of the same firsthand witnesses. Although the special counsel reached a number of the same conclusions as the select committee, the indictment is predicated on a separate and independent investigation. Evidence was developed and presented to a grand jury sitting in Washington, D.C.

The indictment and public reporting suggest that the special counsel was able to obtain key evidence our committee did not have. For example, it appears that the grand jury received evidence from witnesses such as Mark Meadows, a former Trump chief of staff, and Dan Scavino, a former Trump aide, both of whom refused to testify in our investigation. Public reporting also suggests that members of Mr. Trump’s Office of White House Counsel and other White House aides testified in full, without any limitations based on executive privilege, as did Vice President Mike Pence and his counsel.

The special counsel’s indictment lays out Mr. Trump’s detailed plan to overturn the 2020 election, including the corrupt use of fraudulent slates of electors in several states. According to the indictment, senior advisers in the White House, Justice Department and elsewhere repeatedly warned that Mr. Trump’s claims of election fraud were false and that his plans for Jan. 6 were illegal. Mr. Trump chose to ignore those warnings. (Remember what the White House lawyer Eric Herschmann told Mr. Trump’s alleged co-conspirator John Eastman on Jan. 7, 2021: “Get a great f’ing criminal defense lawyer. You’re gonna need it.”) There is little doubt that Mr. Trump’s closest advisers also gave the federal grand jury minute-to-minute accounts of his malicious conduct on Jan. 6, describing how they repeatedly begged the president to instruct the violent rioters to leave our Capitol and how Mr. Trump refused for several hours to do so as he watched the attack on television. This historic testimony about a former president’s conduct is likely to remain secret until the special counsel presents his case at trial.

As a criminal defendant, Mr. Trump has long had access to federal grand jury material relating to his Jan. 6 indictment and to all the testimony obtained by our select committee. He knows what all these witnesses have said under oath and understands the risks he faces at trial. That’s why he is doing everything possible to try to delay his Jan. 6 federal criminal trial until after the November election. If the trial is delayed past this fall and Mr. Trump wins re-election, he will surely fire the special counsel, order his Justice Department to drop all Jan. 6 cases and try to prevent key grand jury testimony from ever seeing the light of day.

I know how Mr. Trump’s delay tactics work. Our committee had to spend months litigating his privilege claims (in Trump v. Thompson) before we could gain access to White House records. Court records and public reporting suggest that the special counsel also invested considerable time defeating Mr. Trump’s claims of executive privilege, which were aimed at preventing key evidence from reaching the grand jury. All of this evidence should be presented in open court, so that the public can fully assess what Mr. Trump did on Jan. 6 and what a man capable of that type of depravity could do if again handed the awesome power of the presidency.

Early this year, a federal appeals court took less than a month after oral argument to issue its lengthy opinion on immunity. History shows that the Supreme Court can act just as quickly , when necessary. And the court should fashion its decision in a way that does not lead to further time-consuming appeals on presidential immunity. It cannot be that a president of the United States can attempt to steal an election and seize power but our justice system is incapable of bringing him to trial before the next election four years later.

Mr. Trump believes he can threaten and intimidate judges and their families , assert baseless legal defenses and thereby avoid accountability altogether. Through this conduct, he seeks to break our institutions. If Mr. Trump’s tactics prevent his Jan. 6 trial from proceeding in the ordinary course, he will also have succeeded in concealing critical evidence from the American people — evidence demonstrating his disregard for the rule of law, his cruelty on Jan. 6 and the deep flaws in character that make him unfit to serve as president. The Supreme Court should understand this reality and conclude without delay that no immunity applies here.

Liz Cheney, a Republican, is a former U.S. representative from Wyoming and was vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 select committee in the House of Representatives.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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