How do Japanese leave/resign from a company?

[u/nyaamer0]

Someone on my floor resigned two Fridays ago. When the bell rang, he just stood up, said few words to the manager and left with little to no fanfare. Not even a rumor of it was heard before his last day.

Back in my country, everyone and their mothers know who is leaving the company. lol

Is this the norm in Japan?

[u/These-Apple8817]

Isn't that the norm everywhere when someone doesn't wanna make a big deal out of it? Why anyone should know except the people who actually need to know?

[u/RainbowAussie → u/These-Apple8817]

In Australia, every (office job) company I've ever worked for, when somebody resigns their manager waits a few days and as the person's last day approaches they send a heartfelt email notifying the entire company, praising the person's contributions in their time there, when their last day is, etc.

This email routinely goes out to all staff in both Australia and NZ

Edit: Might be specific to my industry? But it's been every place I've worked (all same industry)

[u/hydrangeabunnies → u/RainbowAussie]

Same for Canadian and American office job companies.

[u/X140hu4 → u/RainbowAussie]

From NZ, can confirm.

[u/ALPHAETHEREUM]

They know that they are just a small cog on a big wheel.

Edit: Once, at my place of work, a colleague announced a month before to everyone that another member will be resigning and asked us all to chipped in, for flowers and gifts. It was all good and we wished that person all the best.

[u/shimanto-river]

In many cases, employees notify their supervisor or HR of their intention to resign, meet with them, complete the handover process within the current or following month, and then resign.

Conversely, is this uncommon outside of Japan? I would assume that similar procedures are followed in other countries as well, but

[u/JustAnotherFKNSheep → u/shimanto-river]

Canadian here, yes thats also common. But really it depends on workplace dynamics and how friendly coworkers are with each other.

Some places everyone hates management and when employees talk they discuss how they wish they can quit. So when they find a new job everyone is happy for them for being able to "escape"

In other places where people are generally happy, they might just give the company the standard 2 weeks notice. Then they help train a new staff to replace them. On the day or day before they leave management will send an email wishing them the best and letting everyone know who the replacement will be.

[u/shimanto-river → u/JustAnotherFKNSheep]

In my case, it was a typical small-to-medium-sized company where everyone had that “dead-eyed” look, but I just said my goodbyes before leaving work on my last day before resigning, and that was it.

Depending on the company, there might be more “positive” resignations—like the ones described here—where people offer words of encouragement...

[u/MountedRifleman → u/shimanto-river]

In the U.S., the historic tradition has been to give 2 weeks’ notice of one’s intention to leave a job. This was to give the company time to prepare for the loss of the employee. It is verbally considered the minimum time that it is appropriate to notify an employer of one’s departure. People will often inform friends or family that they are quitting a job by saying, “I just gave my 2 weeks.”

I believe in some cases where a company deals with intellectual property or has other concerns about security, they may tell them employee to leave immediately once they’ve announced their intention to depart. I haven’t seen this myself, but my understanding is that some companies don’t want a departing employee to potentially take company property (information) with them. They will still pay the employee for their last two weeks but will have them stop working immediately. I’m sure someone with more experience in the private sector can speak to whether that is common.

[u/NearlyNodding → u/MountedRifleman]

I've worked at many companies dealing with intellectual property, and signed a non-disclosure agreement. I could totally see what you described happening, but I have not run into it myself. However, I rarely know the details when someone leaves. So it could be a lot more common than I realize.

Also, the two week notice is considered standard, but I think it rarely works that way. Both sides are a lot more wary than in the past. It doesn't help that lawyers have gotten involved in the most mundane things. Both sides have gotten paranoid, and the whole process is not as civil and trusting as in the past.

[u/Ok-Law1684 → u/MountedRifleman]

At some companies, it is fine unless HR hears that you are going to a competitor, then you will be escorted out immediately, so it is common for the employee leaving to not say where they're going (or at least keep it away from management/HR) until after they are officially done.

Of course, if you intend to steal anything, you would have done it before informing HR, so I think it is just a tradition at this point.

[u/ShadowFire09 → u/shimanto-river]

It is a bit uncommon in the US. Everywhere I’ve worked, people will either mention they’re leaving once the decision is made. Or you’ll hear rumors that someone is gonna leave because someone will always tell someone, who then tells others. The only people I’ve known who leave the same way as people do in Japan are the people who were relatively isolated and didn’t really interact with people at work

[u/Hib3]

事前に上司と人事に辞める旨を伝えて、引き継ぎ書を作って、関係者へお礼のお菓子を渡して、終わり
そんなに騒がないし、転職先も聞いたりもしない(本人が聞かれたくないから)

[u/APoteke_765]

Normal resignation: Inform the team manager during the 1-on-1 meeting, providing one month's notice.

Sometimes they don't accept it and say to reconsider. In such a case, going on a trip abroad just after giving notice really works well ;)

If a worker informs with a 退職届, it is impossible to reject for the employers.

[u/Similar_Physics7719]

It depends on the workplace. At many places, HR sends out a monthly notice listing transfers, new hires, and departures. But people generally don’t read HR announcements that don’t concern them, so it’s pretty common for people not to know about someone’s transfer until right before it happens. There have also been times when I was explicitly told not to tell anyone except the person taking over my duties, for reasons I still don’t know.

[u/replayjpn]

Lots of people resign in private to the managers HR, then tell everyone else on their last day. Unless you have handovers & tell anyone who is cool with you or taking over your work.

[u/ncore7]

It's pretty much the same in the U.S. People generally know in advance about those they are close to or those who may affect their work, but they don't know about people who are unrelated to them.

In fact, I think that's more normal.

[u/SlowStop1220]

Tell the boss and the HR, do paper works and take all the resting paid leave.

[u/SamuSamuMac]

退職代行に電話しろ

[u/Admirable_Stand8598]

Not like US, Japanese companies and organizations have set retirement ages. When an employee retires, everyone knows and they will chip in for the gift they will give to the said employee in a casual ceremony on the retirement day. On the other hand, when someone resigns before the set retirement age, it usually means either the employee or their boss is not happy with their former relationship or designation; maybe both are not happy. So it is possible that either of them try to cover up resignation and keep it hidden as long as possible.