Comment from Reggie Greenwood
AnonymousOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter opposes a proposal that would prohibit employees from withdrawing a resignation before its effective date. They argue that allowing withdrawals promotes employee retention, preserves institutional knowledge, and reduces costs, suggesting that agencies should only block such withdrawals if they can demonstrate substantial hardship.
I respectfully oppose any proposal that would categorically prohibit employees from withdrawing a resignation before its effective date. Such a policy is inconsistent with sound personnel management and fails to recognize that resignations are often submitted under stressful circumstances, incomplete information, or rapidly changing personal and professional conditions. Federal employees should be afforded a reasonable opportunity to reconsider a resignation before it becomes effective, particularly when the agency has not relied on that resignation by permanently filling the position or making other significant administrative commitments. Allowing the withdrawal of a resignation promotes employee retention, preserves valuable institutional knowledge, reduces unnecessary recruitment and training costs, and supports a fair and equitable workplace. A rigid prohibition on withdrawing a resignation unnecessarily limits management's discretion, deprives agencies of experienced employees they may wish to retain, and could produce avoidable workforce losses. OPM should adopt a policy that balances the interests of both employees and agencies by permitting the withdrawal of a resignation before its effective date unless the agency can demonstrate a legitimate operational reason why doing so would cause substantial hardship or prejudice.