Resignation vs. Termination — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 8, 2024
Resignation is when an employee voluntarily leaves their job, whereas termination is when an employer ends an employee's job, usually due to performance or company needs.
Difference Between Resignation and Termination
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Resignation occurs when an employee decides to leave a job on their own terms, often providing notice to their employer before the departure date. Termination, however, happens when the employer dismisses an employee, which can be immediate or follow a review process due to unsatisfactory performance or organizational changes.
Employees resign to pursue new opportunities, personal reasons, or career shifts. Termination often results from workplace misconduct, poor performance, or company downsizing, with or without severance pay.
Resignation is considered voluntary, giving employees more control over their departure timing. Termination is involuntary and may leave employees suddenly unemployed or with notice if it's due to downsizing.
Resignation generally maintains a more positive employment record, whereas termination might negatively impact future job prospects, depending on the reason for dismissal.
Comparison Chart
Initiated by
Employee
Employer
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Nature
Voluntary
Involuntary
Reasons
New opportunities, personal, career goals
Poor performance, misconduct, downsizing
Notice
Often with notice period
May be immediate or with notice
Employment Record
Often positive or neutral
Can negatively impact future prospects
Compare with Definitions
Resignation
Voluntarily leaving a job.
The employee submitted her resignation letter to pursue another career.
Termination
Ending employment by the employer’s decision.
The manager announced the termination due to persistent absenteeism.
Resignation
Part of a mutually respectful separation process.
His resignation was accepted graciously, and he received good references.
Termination
May follow warnings or a performance review process.
Her termination occurred after a series of warnings about tardiness.
Resignation
Informing an employer in advance of leaving.
His resignation included a two-week notice period.
Termination
Could happen suddenly for serious violations.
Termination was immediate after discovering the embezzlement.
Resignation
Maintaining control over the departure timing.
She planned her resignation to start her new role after the holidays.
Termination
Involves severance pay depending on company policy.
The terminated staff received severance packages as part of the downsizing.
Resignation
Choosing to leave for personal or professional reasons.
Resignation is common when relocating to another city.
Termination
Sometimes results from restructuring or budget cuts.
The layoffs resulted in the termination of several long-term employees.
Resignation
Resignation is the formal act of leaving or quitting one's office or position. 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, or choosing not to seek an additional term, is not considered resignation.
Termination
The action of terminating something or the fact of being terminated
The termination of a contract
Resignation
The act or an instance of resigning
We expect her resignation any day now.
Termination
A word's final syllable or letters or letter, especially when constituting an element in inflection or derivation.
Resignation
An oral or written statement that one is resigning a position or office
Submitted his resignation.
Termination
An ending or result of a specified kind
A good result and a happy termination
Resignation
Unresisting acceptance of something as inescapable; submission
Shrugged with resignation.
Termination
The act of terminating or the condition of being terminated.
Resignation
The act of resigning.
Jane offered her resignation to the board of directors, but they refused.
Termination
The end of something in time; the conclusion.
Resignation
A written or oral declaration that one resigns.
Hand in one's resignation
Termination
An end of something in space; a limit or edge.
Resignation
An uncomplaining acceptance of something undesirable but unavoidable.
With resignation I acknowledged that after the accident I would not be able to ski again.
Termination
A result; an outcome.
Resignation
The form by which a vassal returns the feu into the hands of a superior.
Termination
(Linguistics) The end of a word, as a suffix, inflectional ending, or final morpheme.
Resignation
The act of resigning or giving up, as a claim, possession, office, or the like; surrender; as, the resignation of a crown or commission.
Termination
The process of terminating or the state of being terminated.
Resignation
The state of being resigned or submissive; quiet or patient submission; unresisting acquiescence; as, resignation to the will and providence of God.
Termination
The process of firing an employee; ending one's employment at a business for any reason.
Resignation
Acceptance of despair
Termination
An end in time; a conclusion.
Resignation
The act of giving up (a claim or office or possession etc.)
Termination
An end in space; an edge or limit.
Resignation
A formal document giving notice of your intention to resign;
He submitted his resignation as of next month
Termination
An outcome or result.
Termination
(grammar) The last part of a word; an ending, a desinence; a suffix.
Termination
(medical) An induced abortion.
Termination
A word, a term.
Termination
The ending up of a polypeptid chain.
Termination
The act of terminating, or of limiting or setting bounds; the act of ending or concluding; as, a voluntary termination of hostilities.
Termination
That which ends or bounds; limit in space or extent; bound; end; as, the termination of a line.
Termination
End in time or existence; as, the termination of the year, or of life; the termination of happiness.
Termination
End; conclusion; result.
Termination
Last purpose of design.
Termination
A word; a term.
Termination
The ending of a word; a final syllable or letter; the part added to a stem in inflection.
Termination
A coming to an end of a contract period;
The expiry of his driver's license
Termination
A place where something ends or is complete
Termination
Something that results;
He listened for the results on the radio
Termination
The end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme);
I don't like words that have -ism as an ending
Termination
The act of ending something;
The termination of the agreement
Common Curiosities
What reasons lead to termination?
Common reasons include poor performance, misconduct, or company downsizing.
How does resignation differ from termination?
Resignation is voluntary, initiated by the employee, while termination is involuntary and initiated by the employer.
Why do employees resign?
They resign for various reasons like new opportunities, personal circumstances, or career changes.
What is termination?
Termination is when an employer ends an employee’s job.
Can employees receive severance pay after termination?
Sometimes, based on company policy or employment contracts.
Is notice required for resignation?
Notice is customary, but the required period may vary by company policy.
Is there an impact on future job prospects for termination?
Termination can affect prospects, but not always, as some employers understand the context.
Is resignation better for an employment record than termination?
Typically, yes. Resignation often leaves a more positive record compared to termination.
What is resignation?
Resignation is when an employee voluntarily leaves their job.
Can resignation occur during a performance review?
Yes, employees may resign if they anticipate a negative review.
Does termination always require notice?
No, immediate termination can occur for serious violations.
Do terminated employees lose benefits immediately?
Benefits often end, but the timing depends on company policy.
Is resignation always accepted by the employer?
Employers usually accept resignations, though in some cases, they may negotiate to retain the employee.
Can employees resign to avoid termination?
Yes, some resign to maintain a positive employment record if they foresee termination.
Can an employee contest their termination?
Yes, through internal appeals or legal channels if they believe it was unjust.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
