The 2024 updates to the Saudi Labour Law introduce several significant changes for expatriate workers: Employers must have the approval of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to hire expatriates. Expatriate employees must have valid work permits and residency visas (Iqama).
To quit, write a simple letter addressed to your supervisor that says nothing more than you are resigning, and which day will be your last. Don't mention your reasons or future plans, no complaints, just your resignation and effective date.
Can my resignation be “with immediate effect”? Is it a good idea to do so? If you have less than 1 months' service, and no notice provisions in your contract of employment, then you can resign with immediate effect. You otherwise need to give 1 week's statutory notice (or longer if your contract provides for this).
If someone leaves without agreeing it with their employer first, they could be in 'breach of contract'. This means the person could have a court claim made against them if the employer ends up with extra costs.
Employers must assess whether the employee's actions amount to a resignation or a breach of contract. If an employee walks out and makes it clear they do not intend to return, it may be treated as a resignation. However, employers should seek clarification from the employee in writing to avoid misunderstandings.
Open-ended Contract – The notice period for an open-ended contract is 60 days ing the Article 75 of Saudi Labor Law. Whether it is the employer or the employee, whoever wants to terminate the service contract, must give a notice of 60 days.
If you resign without giving the contractual notice, you may be in breach of contract. This could potentially result in the employer seeking damages, although this is rare for probationary employees. Companies, especially large ones, often have policies regarding rehiring former employees.
Dear Manager Name, I am writing to provide you with two weeks' notice that I will be resigning from my position as Position Name. My last day of employment will be Last Day of Work. My experience as Position Name has been very valuable to me.
What to do when an employee quits without notice Ask if they can perform an exit interview. Send out a memo to announce their absence to the company. Meet with the coworkers directly affected by their absence to redistribute responsibilities. Develop a job description to post on multiple job listing sites.
You can ensure a smooth transition when resigning immediately by being transparent about your reasons for leaving, expressing your sincere appreciation for your time spent at the company, and offering to assist with the transition process until your final day.