So You’ve Recently Resigned, Here’s How to Make Your Last 30 Days at Work Count

(SPOT.ph) With only two weeks left in her current company, marketing officer Meg starts packing up the items on her office desk and organizing the documents that she will turn over to her team, hoping to make the transition smoother as she begins a new career in the advertising industry.

The 27-year-old from Makati City is finishing her last 30 days in her current job, all the while processing the requirements for employment in her new company. It’s a task that new hires like her must accomplish to get clearance from their present employers and be onboarded properly in their next roles.

"Medyo mahirap pagsabayin 'yung completion ng remaining tasks at pag-aayos ng pre-employment requirements, tapos added pressure din 'yung new challenges sa new work. Pero kinakaya naman basta may tiyaga lang," Meg said.

As many workers leave their present jobs for better opportunities at the start of the year, it’s important for resigning employees to know how to maximize their last 30 days of work so that they can prepare for their new roles efficiently, according to a human resources practitioner.

"Ang suggestion ko sa mga employees para mapadali ang inyong buhay, make sure that you render the 30 days or 'yung period na nakalagay sa inyong kontrata," human resources consultant Rhonadale Florentino said in an interview.

"Make sure din na naka-organize na 'yung mga kailangang i-turn over. Kung ano 'yung preparation na ginagawa mo sa paghahanap ng trabaho, do the same thing doon sa mga kailangan i-turn over," she added.

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Why do you need to render 30 days of work before your resignation?

Article 285 of the Labor Code of the Philippines states that an employee may terminate his or her relationship with the employer without just cause by submitting a written notice at least one month or 30 days before the resignation takes effect.

While the law does not specifically provide a reason for such a rule, Florentino said this is to allow the employer to find a replacement and the resigning employee to turn over his or her remaining tasks, Florentino said.

"Ang reason kung bakit meron tayong rendering period is to make sure na hindi mapipilayan yung operations. At the same time, kung si employee man ay nag-resign, biglaan, ayaw niya na, at least may time din siya na humanap ng lilipatan," she added.

Can the employee resign even without rendering the required 30 days? It’s possible, Florentino said, as long as there is a justifiable reason. These include serious insult to the employee, serious misconduct by the employee or employer, a commission of crime or offense against the employee, and other similar conditions.

"Kailangan i-state mo talaga [sa resignation letter] na I am resigning due to the inhuman and unbearable working conditions para clear talaga na walang takas si employer na ito yung reason mo bakit ka aalis," Florentino said.

“Let's say hindi mo lang feel 'yung environment, nagagalit ka doon sa boss mo, masyadong mababaw yun. Kailangan pa rin niyang mag-render ng 30 days,” she added.

How do you maximize your last 30 days at work?

Resignations may be difficult for both the employer and resigning employees, especially if they found lifelong friends in their current companies. For those who want to make good use of their last 30 days at work, here are some helpful tips:

Turn over your tasks well

Although you are only rendering your last working days, be sure to finish all your remaining duties and turn over your tasks properly. This way, the person who will take over your role will be able to transition to his or her new job smoothly.

The turnover also includes all the equipment, files, and documents that your company provided to you for your work, including your office-issued phone, laptop, and other gadgets; IDs and health cards; employee handbooks; cash advances; and liquidation reports, among others.

"Way before you even file your resignation, dapat pine-prepare mo na 'yung itu-turn over. So that when you do file your resignation, konti na lang 'yung kailangan i-turn over at wala nang masyadong hihingin pa sa inyo ang boss n'yo," said Florentino.

Prepare for your next role

While you are completing your last 30 days of work, take the time to accomplish all the requirements needed for your next job. These include all the paperwork needed for your employment and the pre-employment medical examination.

According to Florentino, a job application process usually takes about three months from the time the person sent an application to the first day of work, so it’s better to start getting all these documents ahead of time.

Also read: Fresh Grads, Here's How to Get Required Documents for Your Job Application

Do the exit interview

Most companies require their resigning employees to participate in an exit interview before their last working day. This will allow the management to assess why their employees leave, and what needs to be done to improve their personnel management, so make sure to talk to the HR before you go, according to human resources manager Michelle Morales.

“It's an opportunity to check na rin ano 'yung mga strengths na meron 'yung company, 'yung team, 'yung culture, para in the future ime-maintain 'yun ni company,” Morales said in another interview.

“Hindi man ma-experience ng mga separating employees 'yung mga future programs, at least 'yung mga nag-decide na mag-stay, mae-experience nila 'yung improvement,” she added.

Don't burn bridges

Although you are leaving your current workplace, it doesn’t mean that your working relationship with your officemates will also come to an end. Spend your last 30 days bonding with your workmates and make sure that you will end your time in the company on a good note.

“'Yung boss mo ngayon, konting ikot lang 'yan, baka maging boss mo ulit 'yan. Maliit lang ang mundo, so don't burn bridges,” said Florentino.

Rhonadale Florentino is a human resources consultant and strategist who serves as CEO and President of UpRush Social Geekers, an HR consultancy company.

Michelle Morales is a psychometrician, human resources manager, and co-founder of Leading with Success, an eLearning company that aims to infuse positivity in the workplace.