Before you send anything
- Know your notice period and the policy around it: your appointment letter states the period; the HR policy usually covers early release, buyout and whether leave can be adjusted.
- Talk first, email second. Every email below works best as the written record of a conversation you have already had with your manager.
- Keep HR in copy where the policy asks for it, usually for the resignation itself and for any change to your last working day.
- Get approvals in writing. A manager saying “sure, leave on the 20th” in a corridor isn't enough for HR or for your relieving letter.
If you haven't resigned yet, start with our guide on how to write a resignation letter, which covers what to check before you resign and how to calculate your last day. Formal letter versions for every situation are in our resignation letter templates.
1. Resignation email, serving the full notice period
Send after you have told your manager. Subject lines like “Resignation – [Name], [Designation]” are easy to find later.
Subject: Resignation – [Your Name], [Designation] Dear [Manager's Name], Following our conversation today, I am formally submitting my resignation from my role as [Designation]. As per my notice period of [60] days, my last working day will be [14 December 2026]. I will use the notice period to complete [key deliverables], document my work and hand over to [name or the team]. Please let me know if there is anything you would like me to prioritize. Thank you for your guidance and support during my time here. Regards, [Your Name] [Employee ID]
For more versions, see our notice period resignation letter template and the resignation email template.
2. Requesting early release (shorter notice period)
The most common request, and the one that most needs care. Managers say yes when they believe the work will not suffer, so lead with your handover plan, not your new employer's deadline.
Subject: Request for early release – [Your Name] Dear [Manager's Name], As discussed, my current last working day is [14 December 2026], at the end of my [60]-day notice period. I would like to request an early release, with [20 November 2026] as my last working day, as my new role requires me to join by [24 November]. To make sure nothing is left hanging, here is my handover plan: • [Project A]: complete and hand over to [Name] by [date] • [Project B]: documentation and walkthrough with [Name] by [date] • Knowledge transfer sessions on [systems/processes] in the week of [date] I am also happy to be reachable by phone for two weeks after I leave for any questions. If the earlier date isn't possible, I would be grateful for any reduction that works for the team. Thank you for considering this. Regards, [Your Name]
- Ask early, ideally in the first week of your notice, not the last.
- Offer a middle option (“any reduction that works”) so a partial yes is easy.
- Show progress. A request backed by a handover that is already half done is far more likely to be approved.
3. Notice period buyout request
Some companies let you leave early if you, or your new employer, pay the salary for the unserved days. Check the policy first: some allow it freely, some only with manager approval, and some not at all. Your new employer may reimburse the buyout if you ask them before you join. If you need to leave almost at once, the immediate resignation template asks for a waiver or buyout in the letter itself.
Subject: Request to buy out remaining notice period – [Your Name] Dear [Manager's Name], I would like to request a buyout of the remaining [30] days of my notice period, as permitted under the company's notice period policy, so that my last working day can be [20 November 2026]. I will complete the handover of [projects] before that date and have shared the handover document with [Name]. I understand the buyout amount will be adjusted in my full and final settlement. Could you please approve this request, and copy HR so they can confirm the amount and process? Thank you, [Your Name]
4. Adjusting leave against the notice period
If your policy allows earned leave to be set off against notice, this is often the easiest way to leave a few days early.
Subject: Request to adjust leave balance against notice period – [Your Name] Dear [Manager's Name], I have [10] days of earned leave remaining. As the leave policy allows, I would like to adjust these against my notice period, which would make my last working day [4 December 2026] instead of [14 December]. My handover will be complete by [date], and I will confirm it with [Name] before I leave. Please let me know if this works, and I will raise the request in the HR portal. Regards, [Your Name]
5. Replying when you are asked to stay longer
Sometimes the request goes the other way: the team asks you to extend for a release or a handover. Decide what you can honestly offer, then put it in writing.
Subject: Re: Last working day Dear [Manager's Name], Thank you for checking. I understand the timing with [release/project] is difficult. Unfortunately I can't move my last working day beyond [14 December], as my joining date with my new employer is fixed. What I can do is [run two extra knowledge transfer sessions this week / document the release process in detail / be available by phone for two weeks after I leave]. Would that help? Regards, [Your Name]
6. Confirming your last day and exit formalities with HR
Subject: Confirmation of last working day and exit formalities – [Your Name], [Employee ID] Dear [HR Name], My resignation was accepted by [Manager's Name] on [date], with [20 November 2026] approved as my last working day (approval email below). Could you please confirm: • the exit checklist and asset return process • when I will receive my relieving letter and experience letter • the timeline for my full and final settlement, including leave encashment Thank you for your help. Regards, [Your Name] [Phone Number]
Forward the manager's approval of any change to your notice period with this email. HR will need it, and it protects you if anyone later questions your last day.
7. Farewell email on your last day
Subject: Thank you, and goodbye Hi everyone, Today is my last day at [Company Name]. Thank you for [two or three years] of [specific things: great projects, patient help, long launch nights]. I've learned more here than I can fit in an email. [Name] is taking over [my work]; the handover notes are in [location]. I'd love to stay in touch: [personal email] · [LinkedIn URL]. All the best, [Your Name]
Send it from your work email in the afternoon of your last day, to your own team and close collaborators rather than the whole company. Before you go, refresh your LinkedIn headline for the new role; the free LinkedIn headline generator suggests five versions.
If your early release is refused
Ask once more, with a better handover plan or a buyout offer. Then tell your new employer honestly; most recruiters in India deal with notice periods every day and would rather push your joining date than have you start with a dispute.
Don't simply stop coming to work. Leaving without completing or settling your notice period can mean no relieving letter, a failed background check at your next job, and recovery of notice pay from your final settlement under your contract. A few weeks' wait is almost always cheaper.
While you wait, make the most of the time: update your resume with your latest results using our resume examples for ideas, and check it with the free ATS checker so it is ready for the next move.