Everything you need to know and to look out for before, during and after resigning from your employment and quitting your job.
Are you thinking about changing your current job? Are you planning on transferring to other jobs? Don’t worry! It’s not an unusual thing to think about quitting jobs. A lot of overseas workers especially in the UAE think about their current jobs as stepping stones to better opportunities, so there’s no need to be afraid of taking another opportunity towards other jobs!
Important Read: 15 Things to Know about Working and Living in the UAE
To anyone who is currently employed in any city in the UAE, be sure of the pros and cons, the steps and everything else you need to learn, before making that decision of resigning. Remember that resigning is not an excellent choice all the time, so you need to make sure you know the ins and outs of the process that come with it.
It’s common in the UAE for workers to quit jobs. As mentioned above, some jobs are noted to be stepping stones towards different and better opportunities. However, with these opportunities in place there’s bound to be some good and bad consequences.
So here’s a list of all the things you need to consider first before resigning to prevent unintended consequences:
Tips to Help You Before You Resign from Your Employment
Remember that before reading the tips below, you should already know WHY you are resigning. Keeping your mind clear and open about the reasons of your resignation–will make it easier for you to move towards better goals for your future jobs.
If you already know why you’re resigning, then it’s best to take into consideration the following things/steps:
1. Re-read your employment contract.
Remember that employment contract you signed with your employer? You should definitely go get it right now! Re-read everything (especially the ones in tiny fonts). There’s bound to be questions in your mind what might come up with facing the HR department of your work (or your employer) regarding leaving your job. Your employment contract will help you with that.
Note that in the UAE Labor Law, you do not need consent of your employer before you resign.
In your employment contract, note the policies set out by your employer regarding your notice period, gratuity pay, and anything else that might be related to termination or resignation.
2. Notifying your boss about your resignation = good work etiquette.
Again, you do not need consent of your boss to resign. However, informing your boss should always be a must if you want to make sure you leave in suitable terms.
Yes, it is quite intimidating to face your employer and tell them the reasons you want to leave. However, making sure that your boss knows you want to resign will make it easier for you to process your resignation. There are also jobs out there that you might apply after you resign, that will need recommendations from your previous employer. So keeping a good work etiquette even with resigning, should be a must!
3. Take note of your “notice period” and follow it!
There are employment contracts that require you to send out your resignation letter 30 days before you plan to leave officially. Some resignations have a lot of freedom wherein you can just leave within the week or make an immediate resignation. Noting your “notice period” in your contract should definitely be a must as this prepares you for the next steps before and after you resign.
4. Knowing and noting down your gratuity pay
Gratuity pay depends on the length of your employment (or how long have you worked for). If you have been employed by the same employer for over 1 year, you will receive an end of service benefit when you resign, if you have been working for less than a year don’t expect any gratuity pay.
There should be a breakdown of gratuity pay that may be given to you by your employer or HR department (sometimes the contract also states the breakdown of gratuity pay in some companies). Do not be afraid to ask clarifications about monetary benefits in your contract.
5. Start writing your resignation letter
After you’ve made sure that your boss knows you’re resigning and that you are 100% sure of it, then it’s time to draft that letter. A resignation letter is a formal document that officially notifies your reason to leave.
A part of your resignation letter should always have the time and date of effectivity of your resignation (which will depend on your notice date) and words of gratitude towards your employer. With your letter done, you’ll be able formally notify your boss you’re leaving the company. Submitting your resignation should always be through your HR (personally or via email) so they can document it.
6. Expect your employer/boss to negotiate
Let’s expect that you’ve been a dutiful employee, with excellent employees comes significant benefits for the company and the employer. So expect your employer to negotiate a deal that will provide you benefits but you will have to stay in the company longer.
It’s alright to be attracted to new offers and contracts that will give you greater benefits, however, be aware of what’s actually new and what the cons of your situation are if you DO choose to stay.
Remember that first tip, that you should already know why you are resigning, if their negotiations doesn’t fit your expectations, always be truthful towards your employer. Remember that it’s perfectly fine to decline.
7. Leaving on good terms means you are professional
This is self-explanatory and it should always be a part of the workplace’s environment – to keep being professional even when you leave the company. Making sure that your employer knows why you are leaving and that you’ve written good things in your resignation letter about your employment – will guarantee suitable terms towards your employer.
Note: Some employers give dutiful employees recommendation letters for future companies that you might be employed to, so it’s a benefit for you! (You can also request recommendation letters as well)
Things to consider during your resignation – what you might need to know:
With all that information mentioned above, you now know what to do before you resign. It’s time to know what are the things you need to consider during your resignation period. Remember to grab your employment contract again as everything below will be a part of it!
- Notice Period – Employment contracts always holds a notice period. The most common number of days is 28-30 days but some companies can go up to 3 months. In the UAE Labor Law, once your notice period ends, your previous employer can’t oblige you to work afterward.
- End-of-service benefits or Gratuity Pay – this is your monetary benefit for your employment. Remember that you have the right for gratuity pay, if you have served over 1 year in the same employment.
- Visa – there should be no visa fees due when you resign from your work. Employers are always responsible for any visa fees.
- Airplane Tickets – when you terminate your contract and you will not be working in the UAE anymore, your employer should be the one to pay for your airfare – they also cover for your airplane tickets when you flew to UAE to work for them, so they will cover for the same fees out of the country as well.
- Different types of termination – there are two types of termination you have to be aware of:
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- Under the arbitrary dismissal – your employer will pay you additional compensation because of wrongful termination
- Under the redundancy dismissal – your employer can only grant you, as a benefit, your notice period compensation or your gratuity pay.
- Passport – Some employees agrees for their employers to keep their passport, if you are one of those employees – once you resign, your employer should give your passport back. It is against the UAE Labor Law to withhold an employee’s passport without their consent and when the employee resigns.
- Employment Certificate – you should always request for a certificate of employment, especially if you are going to still work in the UAE (but in a different company). Employees should always have their COE’s as documentation for future employments. In your COE’s there should be a start and end date of your employment, your major role in the company and your salary details. (Note: If you leave your company in inadequate terms or have broken a part of their contract, you are not going to be given a COE)
Also Read: Avoid Fake Jobs and Scams in the UAE
Tips: Preparing for a New Job
Always remember that looking for a new job is part of the process of resigning. A lot of good job opportunities will come into place in the UAE, you will never run out of job options! There are countless of jobs that can provide you with higher salary or a better job in general. Just in case you are leaving your first job in the UAE, then these tips on preparing for your new job might help you out!
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Visas and Passport Validity and Authenticity
You should expect that when you resign from your previous employment, your visa and passport’s validity might change.
You should always know your visa and passport’s validity, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months and more when you are looking for a new employer. Remember that you can only work in the UAE with a work visa, you cannot go against the law and work with a tourist visa. You should also make sure you have a legitimate residency permit on top off your work visa to legally continue any work in the UAE.
With none of the legal matters to consider when it comes to visas and passports, you might risk yourself of either jail time or deportation. Remember that if an employee gets found out with an illegal working status, both the employer and employee will face penalties and legal consequences.
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Certificate of Good Conduct (from your home country)
In the UAE, there is a requirement outline in Ministerial Resolution of 2017. Workers who is employed in the UAE should present a Certificate of Good Conduct from their home countries for the previous 5+ years, Certificate of Good Conduct should provide proof that you have no criminal records under your name.
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Health Screening
This is a must for any workplace screening in any country, you have to undergo a series of medical tests by approved health centers of the government in the country. This is important as the lives of the citizens of the country comes into place, the government of a country always makes sure that expats from other countries are physically and mentally fit to work.
Some examples of medical tests done are for any communicable diseases and conditions such as HIV and TB. If you have any disease or have a history of specific diseases, you need to make sure you state the truth and are ready to be medically tested for your safety.
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Validation of Certifications
For workers outside the UAE that are holding a degree taken outside the UAE, get it certified from the UAE Embassy or consolidate it in your country.
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Additional Tests for other professions
If you are working as a regular worker in the UAE but you want to switch careers to specific professions such as Medicine you have to pass the examination of the Ministry of Health and Prevention before they will allow you to work under the Medicine field.
They do not allow lawyers from different countries to practice their degrees in the UAE, as they permit only UAE nationals to do so.
Summary
To sum it all up, remember that your employment contract is there for any clarifications that you may need. Do not be afraid to consolidate and clarify certain employment questions that is not clear in the contract before you resign. Be aware of certain terms and regulations put in place for your employment, and as always, stay safe!