The Employment Relationship Coming to an End – How to Be a Good Leaver

Whether someone resigns for a new opportunity, retires, changes careers, relocates, or the organisation decides to move in a different direction, endings are a natural part of working life. While conversations about employment ending can often feel uncomfortable, how people leave an organisation matters — sometimes just as much as how they joined.

Being a “good leaver” is about professionalism, maturity, and recognising that reputations follow people long after their final day of work.

At its core, employment is a relationship built on trust, communication, expectations, and shared experiences. Over time, people invest not only their skills, but also their energy, ideas, emotions, and identity into their workplace.

When employment ends, there can be mixed emotions:

These emotions are normal. However, how people manage themselves during this period can significantly impact future opportunities, professional relationships, and personal wellbeing.

Being a good leaver does not mean pretending everything was perfect.

It means leaving with professionalism, integrity, and respect — even if the circumstances were challenging.

A good leaver:

In many industries and communities, professional networks are smaller than people realise. The way someone exits an organisation can shape how they are remembered for years to come.

When employees resign, employers can sometimes feel disappointed, frustrated, or even blindsided. Equally, employees may feel nervous about delivering the news.

But resignations are a normal part of workforce movement.

People leave jobs for many reasons:

Resigning professionally and respectfully allows everyone to move forward constructively.

Not all employment endings are initiated by the employee.

Sometimes organisations need to make difficult decisions relating to:

Even when employment ends involuntarily, professionalism remains important on both sides.

Employers should:

Employees, while understandably emotional, benefit from remaining composed and respectful wherever possible.

A difficult ending handled professionally often protects future references, networks, and opportunities.

One of the clearest signs of a good leaver is the effort placed into handover and transition.

This includes:

Strong handovers demonstrate accountability and professionalism. They also show respect for colleagues who remain.

Sometimes employees mentally “check out” once they decide to leave. Productivity drops, negativity increases, and workplace relationships deteriorate.

This can quickly damage an otherwise strong reputation.

The final few weeks of employment are often what colleagues remember most clearly.

Remaining engaged, respectful, and cooperative until the end reflects maturity and emotional intelligence.

In today’s world, emotional reactions can quickly become public.

Posting negative comments online, criticising former employers, sharing confidential information, or engaging in workplace gossip can significantly damage professional credibility.

Even when frustrations are valid, public venting rarely creates positive outcomes.

A good rule is:
If you would not say it in a professional meeting, do not post it online.