HR Glossary | What Does Resignation Mean?

What does resignation mean?

A resignation is the set of reasons related to an exit that is initiated by the employee and where the departure is permanent, their contract term is ended, not paused. A resignation does not automatically mean the employee is leaving the labor market, resignations typically occur when people leave one employer to move to another employer. Resignations do not include retirements, where the exit is initiated by the employee so that they stop working entirely.

What is the Great Resignation?

The Great Resignation refers to the massive outflow of employees that began during the pandemic and that is predicted to continue into at least the next year. It’s a term that was coined by psychologist Anthony Klotz who warns that it’s a trend that could continue for years. 

Further reading on resignations:

• Four Things We Learned About the Resignation Wave–and What to Do Next
• The Big Quit: Who’s Leaving and Where Are They Going?
• Trends in Employee Resignation Rates: Watch Out for Summer 2021
• New Data: The Great Resignation Will Continue