resignation

A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock.^[1] A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term is not considered resignation. When an employee chooses to leave a position it is considered a resignation, as opposed to termination, which occurs when the employee involuntarily loses a job. Whether an employee resigned or was terminated is sometimes a topic of dispute, because in many situations a terminated employee is eligible for severance pay and/or unemployment benefits, whereas one who voluntarily resigns may not be eligible. Abdication is the equivalent of resignation of a reigning monarch or pope, or other holder of a non-political, hereditary or similar position.

A resignation is a personal decision to exit a position, though outside pressure exists in many cases. For example, Richard Nixon resigned from the office of President of the United States in 1974 following the Watergate scandal, when he was almost certain to have been impeached by the United States Congress.

Resignation can be used politically, as in the Philippines during July 2005 when ten cabinet officials resigned in order to put pressure on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to do the same over allegations of electoral fraud. Alternatively, resignation as a procedure may be used as a political manoeuvre. In 1995, the British Prime Minister, John Major, resigned as Leader of the Conservative Party in order to contest a leadership election with the aim of silencing his critics within the party and reasserting his authority. Having resigned, he stood again and was re-elected.

Although government officials may tender their resignations, they are not always accepted. This could be a gesture of confidence in the official, as with US President George W. Bush's refusal of his Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's twice-offered resignation during the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal. However, refusing a resignation can be a method of severe censure if it is followed by dismissal; Alberto Fujimori attempted to resign as President of Peru but his resignation was refused in order that Congress could fire him.

For many public figures, primarily departing politicians, resignation is an opportunity to deliver a valedictory resignation speech in which they can elucidate the circumstances of their exit from office and in many cases deliver a powerful speech which often commands much attention. This can be used to great political effect, particularly as, subsequent to resigning, government ministers are no longer bound by collective responsibility and can speak with greater freedom about current issues.

List of resignations

I want to put down my papers as on 2nd of August,2009 so that I can complete my graduation which I haven't been able to pursue with full dedication for the last three years, as I have been working, however now that my parents are relocating to Delhi, I would go back to Delhi and re-enroll myself into a full time graduation through Delhi University, which I had done before however due to family needs had to work and hence had to neglect studies. However, now since things are better than before, my parents wish that I could complete my graduation through full time college. I have tried a lot to dedicate my attention into work & studies at the same time, but I couldn't do so. Hence I want to resign from Wipro after successful completion of Notice Period and pursue and complete my graduation.

I wish to get the full support and co-operation as I have been receiving so far and solicit my decision & don't think there could be any grounds for compromise or negotiation whatsoever, as studies are the utmost priority to me at this point, as I don't want to stagnant my career opprtunities my remaining an undergraduate, when I see all my school friends have already become a graduate and I am still enrolling and re enrolling myself over 5 times now in different institutions.

See also

Look up resignation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Notes