How to Handle When An Employee Rescinds a Job Resignation

February 22, 2021 in HR Best Practices

 

 

When An Employee Retracts Quit Notice

Employers might welcome notice of resignation from a troublesome employee as a simple solution to a problem. But what are the ramifications when the employee rescinds a job resignation?

In most cases, the better choice will be to reject the rescission and hold the employee to his resignation. Ensuing litigation may have to be settled or defended, but the potential harm to morale and productivity from an unhappy and resentful employee will be avoided.

Be Aware of ‘Constructive Discharge’ Claim

Moreover, courts in wrongful discharge cases have supported employers who reject rescission of a notice of resignation. An employee who quits can attempt to bring a wrongful termination claim against the employer on a theory called “constructive discharge.” Constructive discharge occurs when the employer intentionally creates a working atmosphere that is so intolerable that a reasonable person would be forced to resign. However, courts have held that an employee who seeks to rescind a notice of resignation and remain in the workplace has in effect admitted that the workplace was not intolerable, which defeats the claim of constructive discharge.

Also, in order for a former employee to make a claim of employment discrimination, they must show that he has suffered an adverse employment action. Ordinarily, termination is a classic adverse employment action. However, courts have held that the refusal to permit an employee to rescind a resignation is not considered an adverse employment action. There is no grace period allowed by law in which an employee is free to reconsider a notice of resignation; it is not an adverse employment action for the employer to take the resigning employee at his word.

Tricky Unemployment Compensation Principles

On the other hand (in employment law, there is usually an “other hand”), different principles apply to claims for unemployment compensation. A person who voluntarily quits his job is usually not eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. Nevertheless, there can be variations from state to state.

Acknowledging that every situation will be different, often the best response to a notice of resignation delivered by a problematic employee is to make the resignation effective immediately, payout the notice period, and wish them luck in their future endeavors.

But even when an employee who is still working during the notice period rescinds a job resignation, the better response is usually to reject the rescission and carry out the separation. There may not even be much exposure to an unemployment compensation claim since employees usually have another job lined up before they resign. And it is almost always better to allow a trouble-maker to remove himself from the premises than to fire him later on and have to deal with a wrongful termination claim.

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Editorial Note: This article originally appeared in ABR Employment Services e-newsletter, HR Insights. It was originally written by Michael N. LaVelle, an attorney with Pullman & Comley LLC.