There’s a persistent myth floating around break rooms, LinkedIn posts, and self-appointed “career gurus”: “It’s always better to resign than to get fired.” It sounds classy, proactive, even empowering. But in the real world, especially in the United States, where employment law is a minefield of nuance, that advice can backfire spectacularly. Because here’s the truth that most people don’t want to say out loud: resigning can cost you unemployment benefits, weaken your leverage for severance, and make certain legal claims harder to bring. The “just resign” chorus often overlooks or misunderstands how the system actually works. To make this real,