Le dimissioni — Handing in My Notice

Leaving a job in Italy

Resigning from a permanent job in Italy is a formal step. An employee normally gives notice — il preavviso — whose length depends on the national collective agreement for the sector and on seniority, and since 2016 most resignations must also be submitted online through a government procedure, to prevent employers from forcing employees to sign undated resignation letters in advance. Inside a company, letters and official documents are often protocollati — logged with a number and a date — which is why Serra's offer to date the letter tomorrow is a small, kind formality. The courtesy in this scene is very Italian too. Alex insists on telling his manager di persona before the news travels; Serra asks for it to be said directly, and then turns the conversation into a memory and a compliment. A good passaggio di consegne — handing over your work in order — is how professionals leave on good terms, and good terms matter in a country where careers often depend on reputation and personal recommendation. Going freelance to translate is common among Italian literary translators, many of whom combine translation with teaching, editing or other work. The life Nadia predicts — alone at home with a book, longing for an aperitivo — is one every freelance translator will recognize.