What is the action called when an employee informs the employer of their intention to leave a job?

The action of informing an employer of an intention to leave a job is generally known as "giving notice." This term specifically refers to the formal communication from the employee to the employer stating that they plan to resign and often includes a time frame for when the employee intends to leave the position. Providing notice is an important practice in maintaining professional relationships and is often dictated by company policy or employment contracts, which may specify how much notice an employee is expected to give.

While resignation can refer to the act of leaving a job, it does not specify the advance communication aspect; hence "giving notice" is the more precise term in this context. Withdrawal could imply retracting a resignation or pulling back from a decision, which does not apply here. Terminating employment usually refers to the act of an employer ending the employee’s job rather than the employee initiating their departure. Thus, the most accurate term when discussing the action of an employee communicating the intention to leave is "giving notice."