Is It a Career Faux Pas to Submit a Resignation and Then Stay?
While not a cardinal sin, submitting a resignation and then retracting it is generally frowned upon in the workplace. It can damage trust with managers and colleagues, and limit future career prospects at the company.
Submitting a letter of resignation to your employer and then retracting it is a situation that many professionals dread finding themselves in. While not an unforgivable offense, it is a move that is generally considered unwise and inadvisable for several reasons.
First and foremost, it can erode your manager’s trust and confidence in you. By tendering your resignation, you are signaling that you have one foot out the door. Even if you end up staying, your commitment to the company will be called into question. Your manager may view you as a flight risk and be less likely to put you on critical projects or consider you for promotions.
In addition to damaging your relationship with your manager, rescinding a resignation can also alter how your colleagues perceive you. Word often gets around when someone resigns, so your co-workers may already be under the impression that you are leaving. If you then stay, it can seem like you got cold feet or were unsuccessful in landing another job. This can lead to awkwardness and a sense that you aren’t really a part of the team.
From the company’s perspective, a resigned employee who ends up staying forces them to hastily change plans. If your resignation was accepted and your replacement already identified, the company then has to adjust if you remain in your role. This is inconvenient at best, and can breed resentment.
There are some exceptions to this. In certain company cultures, using offers from other firms as leverage to get a raise or promotion at your current employer is common practice. And if you have an exceptionally good relationship with your manager, an open conversation about your second thoughts may be possible. But these are the exceptions rather than the rule.
In most situations, the best approach is to be absolutely certain before submitting your resignation. Have a signed offer in hand from your new employer. Don’t give notice until you are ready to leave. Consider the potential bridges burned if you renege.
Your professional reputation is cumulative, built interaction by interaction over many years. Avoid making a misstep like flip-flopping on a resignation, as it can haunt you even if you eventually move on from that particular employer. Carefully consider the ramifications before making any bold moves. When it comes to resigning from a job, it’s usually best to be confident and decisive - either stay or go, but pick a lane.