The thought of communicating an immediate departure with only a day’s notice can feel pretty overwhelming. You might be going through a mix of emotions: anxiety, guilt, and urgency.
Still, you can turn this potentially stressful situation into a manageable and respectful conclusion. All that’s required is a 24 hours notice resignation letter that’s clear and professional.
Sample 24 Hours Notice Resignation Letter
How to Write a 24 Hours Notice Resignation Letter
Here’s an overview of how to write an effective resignation letter with a 24 hours notice:
- List contact details. Personal background details such as your full name, email address, and location go in the header section of your letter.
- Address the right person. Start your letter by addressing it directly to your immediate supervisor or manager. It's also courteous to include HR or the relevant department to ensure all necessary parties are informed promptly.
- State your resignation. Modify the resignation statement to reflect the urgency of your notice period. For example, “I am writing to inform you of my immediate resignation from my position as [Job Title] at [Company Name], effective [Tomorrow's Date].”
- Provide a reason. Given the short notice, provide a concise but sincere reason for your sudden departure. A statement like “Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, I must resign immediately” can be appropriate. Be as transparent as you feel comfortable with, keeping in mind your privacy and professionalism.
- Shift the focus towards gratitude. Despite the short timeline, it's important to express gratitude to reduce the chances of burning bridges. For example, “I deeply appreciate the skills and knowledge I've acquired here and am grateful for the support of my team.”
- Offer transition assistance. Given the 24 hours notice, your ability to assist with the transition process may be limited. However, show that you’re willing to offer your support where you can.
- Leave a positive remark. End on a positive note, expressing your hope that the company continues to succeed and expressing your regret that you cannot provide a longer notice period. “I wish the team and the company all the best and regret that I cannot provide a more extended notice.”
- Use a formal closing. Conclude with a respectful sign-off, such as “Sincerely.”
Let’s dive into each of the steps below.
1. List contact details
The header of every letter of resignation should include your personal contact information:
- Full Name
- Location
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Date
- Company Name
2. Address the right person
Begin with a formal greeting to your manager by addressing them using their last name:
- Dear Mr. Jones
- Dear Mrs. Hughes
- Dear Ms. Wanderwald
3. State your resignation
Write a clear statement that you must resign from your role at the company in 24 hours time. Here are some ways to phrase this:
- I am writing to announce my resignation, effective in 24 hours.
- It is with regret that I must inform you of my resignation. My final day at [Company] will be today.
- Please accept this letter as my formal resignation. Today will be my last day of work.
Be straightforward when stating your last day in the office. Acknowledge the short notice period.
4. Provide a reason
Give an overview of your reasons for leaving. You don’t have to go into too much detail about your circumstances unless necessary.
Here’s an example:
“I apologize for the abrupt notice. Due to personal health reasons that require immediate attention, I find myself in the position of having to leave much sooner than anticipated.”
5. Shift the focus towards gratitude
Expressing gratitude becomes even more critical when resigning on a short notice. Instead of focusing on the negatives, focus on the positives by highlighting your appreciation for the experience.
You can write something like this:
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and experiences I've had with [Company]. The support here from the team has been invaluable.”
6. Offer transition assistance
Despite the short notice, there are still things that you can do to help ease the transition.
Even if it’s not much, showing your commitment to assist wherever possible is a respectful gesture. It reflects your work ethic and dedication to your team, which can help with making a positive impression before you depart.
7. Leave a positive remark
Highlight a specific aspect of your team or company that you admire so that the reader can view your resignation in a more positive light. This helps when it comes to leaving gracefully on a short notice period.
Here are a few things to consider focusing on:
- Thank the company for giving you the opportunity to work for them.
- Share what you liked most about the company culture.
- Acknowledge your personal growth.
Afterward, send your best wishes to the organization.
8. Use a formal closing
End your letter with a professional sign-off:
- Yours sincerely
- Sincerely
- With gratitude
- Best regards
How to Quit Your Job the Right Way With a 24 Hours Notice Period
The best-case scenario is to leave your job gracefully and stay on good terms with the people you’ve worked with.
Even after your resignation, your former colleagues or managers could still offer valuable support by doing a few things:
- Leaving a good reference
- Writing you a recommendation letter
- Referring you to their network
- Reinforcing your professional reputation
Quitting with only a 24 hours notice isn’t exactly ideal. Despite the tight time frame, the aim is to leave your position with as minimal friction as possible. Do what you can to facilitate a smooth handover.
Take responsibility
Know where to prioritize and streamline your efforts. Your actions in your final hours will have a significant impact, so focus on doing the following:
- Identify and complete the most urgent pending tasks. You may not have enough time to finish everything. Therefore, you should communicate with your team or manager about the most critical projects or reports that need attention.
- Quickly organize your workspace and digital files. Make sure all important documents and information are accessible to your team.
- Create a concise handover note that lists key ongoing projects, essential contacts, and any important deadlines.
Doing each of these things will demonstrate your commitment to the company.
Be upfront in communication
Face the reality of your situation. This means not trying to sugarcoat anything by being upfront with your manager about your immediate resignation.
Given the unexpected timing:
- Explain your situation clearly without delving into personal details that aren’t relevant to your resignation.
- Apologize for the short notice and express your willingness to assist in the transition within the limited time you have.
- Keep to the facts and avoid any overly casual or emotive language.
Be formally direct. What’s important to the company is that they can prepare for your resignation as soon as possible.
Highlight the positives
Recall the positive experiences and contributions during your time of employment. Even a brief mention of a valuable experience can go a long way in maintaining your relationship with the organization.
If there’s anything else you’d like to address, such as providing feedback, consider the timing and setting. A written note might be more feasible than a formal meeting.
Maintain professionalism
Refrain from sharing negative feedback or specific personal reasons for your departure with colleagues. Maintain a professional tone and demeanor throughout the entire process. Focus on ensuring a smooth transition.
How Much Notice of Resignation Should You Give?
Under normal circumstances, providing at least a two-week notice period to your employers is standard practice. Leaving immediately with no notice or short notice can disrupt the operations of a business.
However, there are cases where giving a 24 hours notice of resignation is unavoidable. This should only be a last resort.
Resignation letter with immediate effect
Certain situations are urgent enough to justify resigning with immediate effect, even when it deviates from the standard procedure:
- Health concerns: if continuing your job poses an immediate risk to your physical or mental health.
- Ethical dilemmas: if you're faced with practices that conflict deeply with your ethics and cannot be overlooked.
- Workplace misconduct: if you're subjected to or witness severe misconduct.
Before deciding on an immediate resignation, carefully review your employment contract to understand any potential legal implications.
Resignation letter with 24 hours notice
Resigning with a 24 hours notice requires you to communicate your decision respectfully and clearly:
- Express urgency and reason: share the critical reason for your departure, ensuring it's understood that this was not a decision made lightly.
- Legal and contractual considerations: check your employment agreement for any clauses related to resigning on short notice, and prepare accordingly to mitigate legal risks.
- Professional courtesy: offer to assist as much as possible in the handover process.
Resignation letter with standard notice period
The standard notice period is typically two weeks for most companies, but may vary.
In the unusual event that you must resign with a 24 hours notice, state this in your letter of resignation. Acknowledge that while this is far from the standard notice period, your circumstances necessitate such a course of action.
Resignation letter with early notice
Giving notice beyond the standard expectation is usually a sign of goodwill. This could be days, weeks, or even months ahead of what’s been outlined in your work agreement.
However, in the context of a 24 hours notice, the focus shifts to minimizing the disruption caused by making a sudden departure. Communicate your willingness to support the transition as effectively as possible within the time constraints.
How Long Should Your Resignation Letter Be?
2–3 paragraphs or 100–150 words. This is more than enough for writing a resignation letter. You can also add another paragraph in the main body if you’d like to share feedback on your experience with the company. However, your letter shouldn’t need to cover an entire page.
Summary
Let’s recap on how to write a 24 hours notice resignation letter:
- Add your contact information.
- Greet your manager or supervisor.
- Make a resignation statement.
- Give your reasons.
- Express gratitude.
- Show commitment to assist with the transition.
- Make a positive closing statement.
- Use a professional sign-off.
Use everything discussed in this guide to hand in a written resignation notice with courtesy and respect. Good luck!
FAQs
Can I resign with a 24 hours notice?
Yes, you can resign with a 24 hours notice if your employment contract or local work laws allow it. Although the standard is a two-week notice period for most companies, there are some unforeseeable circumstances and personal emergencies that justify an immediate or shorter notice.
How do you write a letter of resignation for 24 hours?
State your intention to resign and mention the effective date (24 hours from the letter's date). Then, briefly explain your reason and express gratitude for the opportunity. Lastly, make a closing statement followed by a professional sign-off.
Is a one-day notice resignation letter okay?
A one-day notice is generally not advisable nor considered courteous. It’s professional etiquette to give at least a two weeks notice to ensure a smooth transition. The only circumstances a 24 hours notice is usually valid is when you’re facing health issues or personal emergencies.
What’s the shortest notice period allowed?
The shortest notice period allowed varies for every company and employment contract. Some companies may allow an immediate resignation, whereas others will require a two-week or one-month notice period.
