Good idea to note willingness to work remotely in resignation letter? (consulting, application)
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I generally find that the more people feel that they're indespensable, the more readily they can be replaced.
If you're resigning, resign. If you are trying to work remotely, have that conversation. To be candid, I would be insulted to get a letter that said I'm leaving to pursue other opportunities, but if you're lost I can consult. The conflict of interest alone is staggering.
Regarding those comments about being irreplaceable. I honestly do not think I am indispensable, and I have been in the workforce long enough to know that nobody is irreplaceable. It doesn't matter how good you are (or you think you are), there is someone out there can do the job better than you and probably for less. So, i do not think I am all that. However, without delving into the company's information, I can confidently say that I am presently very valuable.
Regarding the company offering me more money to stay... I am almost certain that they will after I submit my resignation; however, I am not resigning because of money. I am relocating and they do not have offices in the location I am relocating to. Therefore, no counter offer would be suitable for me... not even telecommuting.
I think I am leaning toward not adding my willingness to temporarily work remotely in my resignation letter. If or when they ask, I will make a decision.
Regarding those comments about being irreplaceable. I honestly do not think I am indispensable, and I have been in the workforce long enough to know that nobody is irreplaceable. It doesn't matter how good you are (or you think you are), there is someone out there can do the job better than you and probably for less. So, i do not think I am all that. However, without delving into the company's information, I can confidently say that I am presently very valuable.
Regarding the company offering me more money to stay... I am almost certain that they will after I submit my resignation; however, I am not resigning because of money. I am relocating and they do not have offices in the location I am relocating to. Therefore, no counter offer would be suitable for me... not even telecommuting.
I think I am leaning toward not adding my willingness to temporarily work remotely in my resignation letter. If or when they ask, I will make a decision.
Here's the other thing.
You're leaving for a reason. You know this. Your boss knows this.
Why would your boss be willing to hire you back on?
I don't necessarily agree with not making the offer to consult. I left my previous company(on good terms) as a manager and had been in the middle of some proposals at the time. While I documented everything I was working on heavily I was concerned that they wouldn't know all the ins-and-outs of the discussions I had with the customer and engineers. When I turned in my resignation letter I put in the offer to work as consultant until contract award at a reduced pay rate. The owner and my manager quickly accepted and I worked from home a few hrs per week and generally just answered questions that arose until they got contract award. Never hurts to avoid burning a bride and over a year later I still get phone calls asking me to come back.
I agree; the resignation letter is not the place for this communication.
Instead, schedule an appointment with your manager. Tell him/her that you're resigning to take another job, etc and hand him/her your letter. Then, make the offer verbally.
I think that if want to make the offer to consult for your current company, do it. But, don't do it in a resignation letter. I would make the offer separately.
In my experience, they probably won't take you up on it, even if you are quite valuable to the company. At my last job I was handling many different types of tasks and was 1/3 of my department (which should have been about twice as large as it was in the first place). I had a TON on my plate. They didn't even make me a counter offer to stay, even after they initially told me they would. It was like at first they thought I was lying about having a new position available. So, when I told them I was leaving, they asked me to give 8 weeks notice. However, after their oddness with offering and then not offering a counter offer to me, I gave them exactly 2 weeks and left. I haven't heard from anyone there, but it appears they are still in busines and doing just fine. I suspect your current company will figure out a way to get by as well.
My partner (romantic, not business) did a fair amount of contract work after leaving his company at the end of last year. I don't think it is as unorthodox or unappreciated as some posters here are making it out to be. He wasn't relocating, just taking his career in a different direction, so he stopped into the old office some nights and weekends until everything was wrapped up. It bears mentioning that this was a small company--I can't see the behemoth he works for now having any idea what to do with someone in that situation.
You're leaving for a reason. You know this. Your boss knows this.
Why would your boss be willing to hire you back on?
Well, the response to that question is somewhat irrelevant. I mean whether my boss would want to or not bears no weight on whether I let them know of my willingness to work remotely. Furthermore, the worst that could happen is they say no, and in this case I have more to gain than to lose since money isn't my reason for wanting to do this.
I am in agreement with those who reveberate that the resignation letter is not the right forum for this. I think I might make the offer verbally after I submit my resignation.
Aloupha, I also think the resignation should be separate from the verbal offer to do some follow up. The manager will likely have to sell the idea to others if they need to have you consult. Be prepared to decide if you will work on an hourly rate or ask for a straight contract amount. Good luck!
Another thing to consider is that your new employer may want you to sign an exclusivity agreement, preventing you from continuing to work with your former company. Especially if the new company is a competitor of the old company.
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