Can I withdraw my resignation after immediately regretting leaving my job?

[itsme55]

I was sure about leaving my job for another and handed in my notice. As soon as I did it, I felt regret and wanted the old job back because I realised how good it was. I have asked by email if I can withdraw my resignation. I was told my my manager there is nothing I can do apart from reapplying. I've sent emails to other parts of the company including HR who have opened an appeal.

Is there anything I can do?

I am always surprised on here how much power HR seem to wield, or how much some people think they do. If one of my team resigned and then wanted to withdraw it, they would come to me, not HR - if I wanted them to stay I would say yes and vice versa. Would go nowhere near HR other than admin tasks.

Not necessarily. My employer has a policy that resignations cannot be withdrawn. As a manager I couldn’t do anything in this situation.

The biggest winger at work left for a better job. She hated it and asked to come back. We said ok but the terms are no more whinging and get on with it. She has been brilliant since. Sometimes good to see the other side.

I did this many years ago. I took another job that looked great with better pay but turned out to be a nightmare with a horrible boss. My old employer said it depended whether my resignation had been processed by hr. It had, so I couldn’t have my exact old job back but they gave me a similar role with slightly less money! I took it and continued looking for another job. It was nice to feel safe and familiar until I found a better paid job. I did find a well paid job and it worked out well for me!

If you were valued there they’d let you rescind. It’s always cheaper and easier to retain good staff than recruit and train newbies. Some managers can be petty about ‘loyalty’ though even if you’ve given good reasons (such as house move etc). I think you’re better off leaving.

I'm so sorry OP that you are unable to get your job back easily.

No point now trying to guess the reasons why and replay if only scenarios in your head.

You have nothing to lose by re-applying - but I would ask your manager informally, if you did, what would be your chances realistically. If the reply is that the job is absolutely yours - you'll know it is a process hoop they need to jump through. If the answer is anything else - I personally wouldn't bother applying as it sounds like an excuse and they are trying to spare your feelings.

There is always a good reason why someone decides to leave. Trust that gut instinct and look for the next opportunity elsewhere. When you find that new job, you won't look back.

Good luck.

Nothing surprises me the way managers behave anymore. I had a colleague who was a new widow with v young kids,, tried to come back after bereavement leave, struggled then gave her notice in. She asked for it back almost immediately, I think her head must have been all over the place, and she was told it was too late. Some managers just lack any sense of humanity and will use every trick in the book to convince the person that it’s against the protocol or that HR doesn’t allow it.

but I’ve also seen the other side where they can offer pay increases etc to convince you to stay.

as everyone says, if they want you badly enough, they will make it happen.

definitely try and speak to boss and hr we are only human and people make irrational decisions say you were under pressure because it sounds like you are
if they do not support you then perhaps it isn’t the right company for you and you are meant for a change
good luck x

You just don't know whats going on in the background though. Many companies are cutting costs at the moment and delighted when someone resgins so they can rehire at a more junior level and save money. Some are implementing hiring freezes, even for valid roles. They may have already budgeted for OP's departure.

@dancehysterical22 , happened at my school as well. The teacher concerned did not get the chance to rescind.

My employer never takes back ex-employees.

What a strange line to take. One of my best and most hard working and talented employees is someone who left and worked elsewhere for 5 years or so. The different experience was great for her and she's a fabulous part of the team

Employees aren't slaves. They often need to leave to progress their careers

I think she maybe means that her boss doesn't take people who leave, then regret it and decide to come back straight away?

Not necessarily personal as in "Iike an employee" but possibly a financial decision. Perhaps the employer has taken the opportunity to review employees/finances and realises there's a cost saving.

I do know someone who left a job for a new job. The new job fell through, I think the company went bust and she asked for her old job back, and she got it.

Some companies definitely will

A company can absolutely accept your withdrawn resignation if they want to. There is no legal requirement stopping them.

Their company policies however may prevent them from doing that. And it sounds like they’ve told you what the process is for trying to obtain your job back.

At my company, if we have a good employee resign, but then they changed their minds, we’d usually just take them straight back on.

Sadly, I sent an email to HR, they opened a case and gave me a ref number but heard nothing back. I contacted another manager and a union rep, but I put my resignation in an email.

Our landlord said they were selling the house. It put myself and my partner in a state of shock then depression. I didn't want to leave the job, but we felt it would be difficult to stay in such an expensive area and keep on asking our guarantor.

My head just wasn't in the right place. We have 2 kids to think about, so in panic, I applied for another job near family. Now I regret it. To cap it all off, 3 days after I handed in my notice, the landlord said he's struggling to sell the house and we can stay longer.

My depression is getting worse and I'm trying my best to look happy in the new job. I've moved alone and staying with family, my immediate family are still in the house deciding what to do. I'm concerned because I'm in my late 50s.

As we say in Scotland 'no takesies backsies'

Okay. It’s a lot but nothing is unfixable. I’m a great believer in things happen for a reason.

Your landlord is going to sell his house. I would look to move as soon as I can as you know this. Start looking at new houses now while you are alone as it will give you something to do.

This could be a great new start

Thank you for this. I'm still in shock. I knew we had to move but didn't know how I would feel. I'm an indecisive person at best, and with two children to support everything feels urgent. My biggest worries are that we have to like our jobs and my daughter is moving from an affluent area to a much poorer one, a big city to a small town with a local community and a slow pace of life. She have to go straight into high school. She has been accepted in the high school in the place where we have been living also. I've been breaking my heart because she'll leave her friends.

I'm trying to believe that things happen for a reason. I just feel responsible for initiating this one to happen.

You did the best you could with the knowledge you had.

Could your partner look at a higher paid job so you could stay in the area?

I think it depends on the company. I handed my notice in to my manager, she begged me to stay, offered me a better deal and told me she would bin the resignation letter as she wanted me to stay but I still left. Too little too late.

can you speak to your line manager and see if they can help, explain exactly your circumstances.

I'm trying my best to look happy in the new job

Hang on, so you've actually started the new job?

I think the ball is in their court.

Exactly. We did have someone come back from about five years ago but they were a supervisor. Us shop floor workers can stay gone!