The Best Way to Write a Professional Resignation Withdrawal Letter

Leaving a job is never an easy decision. Likewise, filing a resignation is typically a difficult task for most people. But, what if, after handing in your resignation letter, you realised that it wasn’t the best move after all? Is it good to withdraw your resignation? Can you still take it back with a resignation withdrawal letter? If you do so, will it seriously affect your professional relationship in the workplace?

The short answer to all of the above is yes. You can still withdraw or rescind your resignation; however, in general, it can certainly be a tricky situation. In favourable circumstances, an employer may simply just dismiss your resignation and allow you to continue your employment as if you never filed your notice. Otherwise, an employer always has the option to refuse a rehire – for several reasons.

In addition, the company is also not obliged to take you back on the terms of your previous employment. They may give you a new contract with different employment terms. You may also have to serve a probationary period again for three to six months. Alternatively, they may also decide to rehire you on a contractual basis.

Malaysian labour law on resignation

Before anything else, keep in mind that in Malaysia, a resignation that has already been accepted can no longer be withdrawn. Therefore, if your employer has already agreed to your resignation, in most cases, you can no longer take it back.

In fact, even if you try to retract it as soon as possible, it does not guarantee that your employer will cancel your resignation. This was one of the topics covered in the 2019 court case Chong Kok Kean vs. Citibank Berhad. The employee, Kok Kean, sent his employer a letter for withdrawing his resignation, four days after making his notice, supposedly before the Bank formally accepted it.

The Industrial Court decision confirmed the rule that once an employee files a resignation, they can no longer withdraw it unless the employer expressly agrees or allows him to do so. Also, the employer does not need to formally accept the resignation. Once they are aware that an employee has sent the notice, it can already be considered as acceptance. Likewise, the employer can reject any attempts of an employer to withdraw the notice.

In a nutshell, just as an employer cannot prevent an employee from resigning, employees also cannot prevent their employers from accepting their resignation.

The best way to write a resignation withdrawal letter

All this said, is it still possible for you to keep your job after resigning? Only if your employer allows you to. This is where a well-written resignation withdrawal letter can help convince them to let you stay in the company. With the tips below, you should be able to craft one that can best communicate your intent to keep working for your employer.

Time is of the essence.

It is best to withdraw a resignation as quickly as possible. It gives you the best chances of getting your manager and superiors to see that you are serious about retracting your resignation. So, as soon as you have a change of heart and feel that you actually want to stay in the company, start writing that resignation withdrawal letter.

You may also want to talk to your manager first and express your decision to withdraw your resignation. Treat it as a heads up that you are also planning to formalise your intention to retract your resignation in writing. They may actually be happy to know that you want to stay, or let you know where you stand. Either way, both will be crucial to your next steps.

Keep it brief and professional.

Since you are still sending an official document, make sure that it is both professional and brief. First, apologise for any inconvenience you might have caused. Be honest about your reasons for withdrawing your resignation. Also, mention the circumstances that led you to resign to let your employer know the full context of your situation. However, avoid going into too much detail, as well as begging or pleading to your manager, as they will make you appear unprofessional. Keep in mind that staying composed is important when dealing with employment matters like this.

Say thank you.

Since you are essentially asking for a favour, make sure to thank your manager for taking the time to consider your request. You may also want to express gratitude for the opportunities that your employment provided you. This way, your employer will see that you remain professional whether they allow you to withdraw your resignation or not.

End on a positive note.

Whatever the outcome of your request, make sure that you keep things positive between you and your employer. Whether they keep you in the company or let you go entirely, there may come a time when you might cross paths with them again. Maybe they will consider rehiring you if the position opens again, or if they have a similar role that you can be a great fit for. Therefore, it is important to end your letter – and possibly, your employment – on a positive note.

Resignation withdrawal letter sample

Still unsure about how or what to write in your resignation withdrawal letter? Use the following example as a guide:

Dear [manager’s name],

I am writing to express my desire to cancel my resignation sent on <insert date the resignation letter was sent> and due on <last date on resignation letter>. I filed for resignation due to <mention briefly the reason for resignation>. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

If you decided to stay because of the new contract terms:

Following the discussion we had on <insert date of when you discussed your new contract and the new contract details>, I’m happy to accept the new terms of employment we discussed.

If you are staying because you changed your mind:

I would like to continue my stay in <insert name of company> and my position as <current job position> due to the following reasons: <insert your reason for retracting your resignation>.

I understand that this situation can be awkward, but I am hoping to continue my stay in the company. Rest assured that improving my performance at work is my utmost priority, with the intention of becoming a more valuable asset to the company.

Thank you for your time and consideration regarding my request to continue in my current position. I will be happy to discuss this matter with you at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to your favourable response.

Yours sincerely,

<Your signature>

<Your name>

Once you have sent in your resignation withdrawal letter, you must be prepared for any outcome. Your manager may be happy to know that you want to stay, but the upper management may still decline your request. There may also be some legal circumstances or existing company policies that prevent your employer from accepting your retraction. Either way, it’s important to show that you have no hard feelings and you are able to move on with valuable lessons and experiences from your employment.

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