Maternity Leave Transition Resignation

Resigning During or After Maternity Leave

Deciding not to return from maternity leave is a deeply personal choice, and you don't owe anyone a detailed explanation. Your resignation letter should be warm, professional, and brief. State your decision clearly: "After careful consideration during my maternity leave, I have decided not to return to my position. My last official day will be [date]." You don't need to justify your reasoning or apologize for choosing to focus on family. This is your life, your decision, and you have every right to make it without guilt or over-explanation.

Express genuine gratitude for the maternity leave support and the opportunities you had with the company. "I'm grateful for the maternity leave benefits and the support I received from the team during my time here. I've valued the experience and professional growth I've gained at [Company]." This acknowledges their investment in you and keeps the tone positive. Even if you've had frustrations or challenges with work-life balance, your resignation letter is not the place to air grievances — keep it gracious and forward-looking.

Offer to help with the transition in whatever capacity makes sense for you. If you're able and willing, you might say: "I'm happy to assist with knowledge transfer remotely or answer questions as the team transitions my responsibilities." However, be realistic about your availability — if you're caring for a newborn, your capacity is limited, and that's perfectly reasonable. If you can't commit to transition support, simply say: "I'll ensure that all my current projects are documented and accessible to the team." Set boundaries that work for your new reality.

Keep the resignation professional and avoid burning bridges. You may want to return to the workforce in the future, and maintaining positive relationships with former colleagues and managers helps. Submit your resignation with appropriate notice (even though you're technically still on leave), follow company protocols for returning equipment or completing exit paperwork, and leave on good terms. Many parents who step away from work eventually return, and you want that door open. A respectful, well-handled resignation ensures that if you ever want to come back — whether to this company or through references for other opportunities — you'll be remembered positively.