Is there a single word for someone who left the company that does not have overly negative connotations?

Question

In a new policy from my company (non-native English, but English is the corporate language), they use the word "defector" to refer to a person who has quit their job.

I think "defector" has too many and too strong negative connotations around it (some applying to the "defector", but most applying to a company who would call a leaving employee a defector).

"Quitter" doesn't exactly sound great either, and "the person who is about to leave" is a bit long to use at every point where that person is referred to.

So, is there a single word (or very short phrase) for someone who left the company that does not have overly negative connotations?

Something akin to "new employee" or "new hire", but for someone who is about to leave.

Example phrase:

"The Defector writes a farewell text and posts it on the intranet"

Example of related phrase (suggestions for alternative to "defection" are also welcome):

"The defection is communicated locally or group wise"

Answer 1

I would refer to someone in this situation as a former employee.

Former referring to something that happened in the past (i.e. the person worked for the company in the past) and employee referring to someone who worked for a salary.

Former employee:

Former is used to describe someone who used to have a particular job, position, or role, but no longer has it.

Reverso Dictionary

This phrase can be dynamic and subject to change, as one could have a former colleague, former boss, and former company (just a few of many other ways to utilize former in this sense)

Former employee tends to have a more positive connotation than defector and can be more personable in conversation, when referring to one who once worked for a company.

For example:

My former employee writes a farewell text and posts it on the intranet