- Reasons that you would need to rescind your two-week notice letter
- Steps for retracting your two-week notice
- 1. Talk to your boss
- 2. Write a retraction letter
- 3. Keep doing the best job possible
- 4. Accept the situation and move forward
- Key takeaways
Do you want to retract your 2 weeks’ notice letter? It is possible, but can be tough. We’ll give you some advice on how to best do this.
Sending that resignation letter or two-week notice can be invigorating, but if you later find out that you made a mistake, it can be very awkward. Deciding that switching jobs isn’t going to work for you is bad enough, but having to tell your current boss that you’ve changed your mind about quitting makes it even worse.
You can retract your two-week notice or resignation letter, but, in most cases, it’s up to the employer whether they accept your retraction. They can reject it and your resignation will stand. It’s an unpleasant situation all the way around, but we’ll help you navigate through it. In this article, we’ll cover the following points:
Why would you want to retract your resignation letter?
How to handle rescinding your two-week notice
An example of a letter for retracting your two-week notice
Reasons that you would need to rescind your two-week notice letter
There can be a lot of good reasons for not wanting to quit your job, even after you’ve submitted a two-week notice letter. Something didn’t work out, like the new employer rescinding their offer, or maybe an issue came up with your family that is preventing you from taking the new job. You may have discovered new information about the new job you don’t like. The new job requires you to move, but something happened causing you to be unable to move. Whatever the reason, make sure you have a logical explanation for not quitting because you’ll need to explain yourself to your current boss.
Steps for retracting your two-week notice
1. Talk to your boss
Communicate with your direct manager right away. Letting them know as soon as possible is crucial because they’re probably already working on filling your position. Be open and honest with them about your situation. This is where having a good reason for NOT leaving comes in. Explain to them why you want to stay and how that will be a good thing for them. Don’t get emotional and be ready for rejection. Stay calm, and be professional regardless of how the discussion goes.
2. Write a retraction letter
Once you’ve spoken to your boss, write a letter that formally retracts your resignation. Hopefully, you already have a good idea of what your employer’s position is on the situation. This will help you draft your letter. Make your letter direct and professional. Keep it short and don’t get overly detailed about why the other job didn’t work out. We’ll give you an example letter to use later in this article.
3. Keep doing the best job possible
Don’t slack off, even if they don’t accept your retraction. It’s never a good idea to burn your bridges. You don’t know what will happen in the future and who you’ll be working for. Always be professional.
4. Accept the situation and move forward
If they accept your retraction, then it’s all good, and you can get back to work. However, if they don’t, then you need to be gracious and move on without any drama. You’ll find another job.
Dear [name of your direct manager or HR person],
Following up on our discussion, I am writing to formally withdraw my two-week notice letter, submitted on [date of resignation], and I request to be reinstated as [job title that you resigned from] with the [department name].
As we talked about, my circumstances have changed, and I feel that remaining in my current role with [organization name] is in the best interest of my career and the company. I truly wish to continue contributing positively to the team’s deliverables and accomplishing the company’s objectives, as I have diligently done for the past [time frame you’ve worked for the company].
Thank you very much for taking the time to discuss my situation. Our talk really solidified my position and strengthened my determination to move my career forward with [organization name].
I appreciate your understanding and support.
Regards,
[Your name]
Need some help writing an outstanding resume and cover letter? Check out our job seeker services for some great guidance, templates, and examples to use for inspiration.
Key takeaways
It’s possible to retract a two-week notice letter, but it’s a tricky situation.
Your employer can accept or decline your retraction.
Discuss it with your boss or HR before sending your letter.
Create and submit a formal and well-written letter.
Be professional, stay positive, and move forward whatever the result is.
