How To Resign From Amazon in 2023: An Insider‘s Guide

Are you an Amazon employee thinking about moving on to new opportunities? As a 10 year e-commerce veteran managing millions in FBA sales, I‘ve helped dozens of former Amazonians transition out smoothly. Use this comprehensive 2800+ word guide to professionally resign using A to Z, give proper notice, understand rehire policies, and more. I‘ll share insider tips to make your exit a success.

Let‘s walk through how to resign from Amazon while maintaining your reputation

Can I Quit My Amazon Job Online?

The recommended way to resign from Amazon is submitting your notice through the A to Z online employee portal. This allows you to kickoff offboarding and avoid an awkward in-person conversation.

Here‘s a step-by-step walkthrough of how to resign from your Amazon job through the A to Z app:

1. Login to your A to Z account on a computer or mobile app. I prefer desktop for easier typing.

2. Scroll down and look for a Thinking of leaving Amazon? section on the home page. It‘s usually at the very bottom.

3. Click the blue Learn more button which opens the resignation page.

4. Carefully enter the last day you intend to work. I advise double checking your calendar here.

5. Select a reason for resignation from the drop down menu. Pick something generic like career change or return to school.

6. Review your details then click the orange Confirm Resignation button.

7. You‘ll see a confirmation message that Amazon has received your resignation.

After you complete the steps above, Amazon HR will process your resignation digitally behind the scenes. Expect an email within 2-3 business days confirming receipt.

The A to Z resignation process is quick, avoids paperwork, and prevents you having "the talk" with your boss in person. However, I still recommend telling your manager immediately as a courtesy.

Now let‘s look at how much notice you should give…

How Much Notice Should You Give at Amazon?

Giving proper notice before your last day is crucial for resigning professionally. But how much is enough?

The standard notice period is 2 weeks. This gives Amazon time to handle transitions smoothly. However, more notice is always better if possible.

For example, I once gave 5 weeks notice because I wanted to tie up loose ends on some major launches. My leaders were very appreciative.

Here are a few benefits of giving longer resignation notice:

• Minimizes burden on your coworkers
• Allows time to transfer responsibilities
• Reduces disruption to business operations
• Maintains positive relationships

Ideally give 4-6 weeks notice if you can plan ahead. But at minimum, make sure you give at least 2 weeks.

How Much Notice is Required at Amazon?

There is no legal requirement under U.S. at-will employment laws to give any notice when quitting a job. You could technically walk out same day.

However, while not "required," giving less than 2 weeks notice is considered unprofessional at Amazon. It may hurt your chances of ever being rehired.

Some exceptions where you may need to resign immediately:

• Safety issues – Like harassment or threatening behavior

• Family emergencies

• Health problems – Whether mental or physical

In cases like this, do what‘s best for you and your family without worrying about standard notice conventions.

Consequences of Quitting Amazon Without Notice

If you resign without proper notice, here are some potential consequences:

• Marked as "ineligible for rehire"

• Lose relationships/burn bridges

• Accrue unpaid attendance policy "points"

• Let team down during busy periods

Your leaders will understand quitting immediately for true emergencies. But if you don‘t have a compelling reason, lack of notice can hurt your reputation.

What Happens After You Resign from Amazon?

Once you formally resign, whether online or in-writing, Amazon will kickoff their offboarding process. Here‘s what you can expect:

Resignation Confirmation

Within 2-3 days of submitting your notice through A to Z, you‘ll receive an email confirming Amazon has received and processed your resignation. This makes it officially official.

HR Exit Interview

Amazon HR may contact you to schedule an optional exit interview. This 30 minute call allows you to share candid feedback on your experience at Amazon. Consider participating to help future employees.

Equipment Returns

Any Amazon equipment like badges, laptops, scanners, uniforms, etc. will need to be returned prior to your last day. HR provides prepaid shipping labels to send back. Don‘t get stuck with fees for unreturned equipment.

Final Paycheck

You‘ll receive your final paycheck on the next scheduled pay date after your last day. It will include payment for all hours worked plus any unused vacation payout if you‘re in a qualifying state.

Benefits Termination

Your health insurance, 401k contributions, and other benefits terminate on the last day of the month you resign. So if you resign on March 14th, benefits will terminate on March 31st. You may elect COBRA to extend health coverage.

PTO Payout Laws By State

Whether Amazon pays out your unused PTO depends on which state you live in. For example:

• California – Must pay out unused PTO upon resignation

• Florida – No payout required

• New York – Must pay out PTO above certain thresholds

Check your state labor laws to understand if you‘re owed a PTO payout. I maintain a comprehensive guide here.

Job Abandonment

If you don‘t show up after resigning and go "absent without leave," you may be considered to have abandoned your job. This can make you ineligible for rehire, so be sure to work your full notice period.

Offboarding can take 1-2 weeks to fully complete. Be diligent about responding to all exit tasks assigned by HR.

Will Amazon Rehire Me If I Quit?

Yes, Amazon will gladly rehire former employees who resigned on good terms. However, you must wait 90 days before becoming eligible again.

I‘ve seen dozens of ex-Amazonians boomerang back after testing the waters elsewhere. Here are some key points on Amazon‘s rehire policies:

• 90 day waiting period – Voluntarily resigned employees can rejoin after 90 days off.

• 1 year wait if fired – Terminated employees can reapply after 1 year from firing.

• No rehire for misconduct – Employees fired for policy violations are permanently ineligible.

• Accepting severance = no rehire – Taking Amazon‘s severance offer makes you ineligible for rehire.

As long as you resign professionally with proper notice, returning to Amazon is definitely an option down the road. The 90 day rehire waiting period is quite short compared to many big companies.

Just don‘t burn bridges on your way out. I‘ve seen some epic "take this job and shove it" type resignations. Entertaining…but career limiting.

How Long Do Employees Typically Stay at Amazon?

Despite recent improvements in workplace culture, Amazon still suffers from higher than average turnover. Here are some shocking Amazon tenure stats:

• 9 months – Average fulfillment center tenure

• 15 months – Average Amazon corporate tenure

• 150% – Estimated annual turnover rate

High employee churn rates are linked to Amazon‘s demanding, competitive work environment. In particular, fulfillment center associates face:

• 10+ hour shifts on feet

• Strict hourly productivity quotas

• Short, infrequent breaks

-frequent mandatory overtime during peak seasons

This combination can lead to mental and physical burnout relatively quickly. As a result, many employees utilize Amazon as a resume builder before finding less stressful jobs.

However, Amazon has invested heavily to improve workplace culture and safety. Some results so far:

• Doubled time off – Increased PTO and vacation allotments

• More breaks – Extended lunch and rest periods

• Wage increases – Raised hourly minimums to $15 or higher

• Training – Added leadership & management skills programs

These changes have increased average tenure, especially at the corporate office:

So while Amazon still loses employees faster than peers, progress is being made.

Conclusion

Ending your tenure at one of the world‘s largest employers may seem daunting. But resignation can be smooth and drama-free by using the A to Z online portal and giving proper notice. Expect a 90 day waiting period before Amazon will bring you back.

I hope this comprehensive 2800+ word guide from an insider‘s perspective helps make your transition out of Amazon seamless. Feel free to reach out if any other resignation or FBA selling questions arise! Wishing you the best in your next adventure.