Resignation Handover: Notice Period, Benefits and Exit Checklist

Your notice period is the period between your resignation date and your last working day. Check your contract for the contractual notice requirement — this overrides the statutory minimum (one week after one month of service) if it is longer.

• Confirm the notice period in writing. Your resignation letter should state the date of resignation and the expected last day of employment, calculated from the notice requirement in your contract.
• PILON option — your employer may offer to pay you in lieu of notice rather than require you to work the period. This is at the employer's discretion unless PILON is specified in your contract. If offered, confirm the gross amount and payment date.
• Garden leave — your employer may place you on garden leave: you remain employed and on full pay but are not required to attend. Note what this means for your start date with a new employer if one is already confirmed.
• What to take before your last day — personal files, personal contact details, portfolio work you own (check your contract on IP ownership), and any documents relevant to your employment record.
• Handover obligations — you are expected to complete a reasonable handover during your notice period. Document your outstanding work and pending tasks. This affects your reference.

A clean exit requires the following to be confirmed before your last day:

• Written acceptance of resignation — request written confirmation from HR that your resignation has been received and the last day is agreed.
• Reference agreement — confirm who will provide a reference and in what format. Agree this during the notice period, not after your last day.
• Outstanding expenses — submit all pending claims before your last day. Chasing expenses post-departure is more difficult.
• Restrictive covenants — review your contract for post-termination restrictions: non-compete clauses, non-solicitation of clients or colleagues, confidentiality obligations. Note the duration and scope. If a restriction is potentially relevant to your next role, take independent legal advice.
• Company equipment — agree the return process and document what you return.

Voluntary resignation affects benefit eligibility differently from redundancy or dismissal:

• Universal Credit — voluntary resignation does not automatically disqualify you, but the DWP may apply a sanction (reduction in payment) for a period if they determine you left employment without good reason. The definition of "good reason" is assessed case by case. Check current sanction rules at gov.uk/universal-credit.
• New Style JSA — the same sanction risk applies. If you voluntarily left employment without what the DWP considers good reason, payment may be withheld for up to 26 weeks. Eligibility based on National Insurance contributions is unaffected.
• If you are moving directly to a new role — benefit claims are generally not relevant if employment resumes within a short period. Check whether there is a gap between leaving and starting that requires any action.

The core sections of this document apply in full, with the following modifications relevant to resignation:

• Financial Snapshot — if you are moving directly to a new role, the urgency of the financial snapshot is lower. Complete it regardless — accrued holiday pay, pension records, and outstanding expenses still need to be documented.
• The Search — if a role is already confirmed, this section does not apply. If you resigned without a confirmed role, the search starts in week two or three of the post-employment period, not immediately.
• Day One actions — the Day One section applies in full. Notice period does not delay the need to secure personal files, contacts, and documents before access is removed.
• Routine Rebuild — applies immediately from the last day, regardless of whether a new role is confirmed. The gap between leaving and starting — even a short one — benefits from structure.

Proceed to Day One if you are in your notice period or have just left. If a new role is already confirmed and the financial position is clear, you may go directly to What You Know and Routine Rebuild.