The Great Resignation saw workers quit their jobs at historic rates in the pursuit of a better work-life balance, more money and greater job satisfaction. And while plenty are happy with their decision, some have found that the grass isn’t greener elsewhere – and are facing the Great Regret.

In 2021, an unprecedented 47 million Americans quit their jobs to find new work. Data released by the UK’s Labour Force Survey in November 2021 showed that, of the 1.02 million people who moved jobs between July and September 2021, 391,000 of them had resigned – the highest increase ever recorded by the LFS.

However, research has suggested that not all workers have found what they’re looking for elsewhere. A survey by Paychex, which polled more than 800 employees and 300 employers, found that eight in 10 workers who left their jobs during the Great Resignation now regret it.

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Only about half of those polled were found to be happier and more satisfied with their work-life balance in their new workplace, with Gen Zers reporting the lowest levels of positive mental health.

So if you regret handing your resignation in, what should you do? And is there ever a chance you can get your old job back?

“Whether they left in search of higher pay, better benefits, or work-life balance, many job-hoppers who left during the Great Resignation now regret their decision,” Jeff Williams, vice president of enterprise and HR solutions at Paychex. “In fact, 78% of employees who left during this time want their old jobs back, and 68% have attempted to get their previous job back.”

There may be hope if you want to return to your old job. Due to the cost of onboarding brand-new employees, seven in 10 employers either want to give or have given people their old jobs back. Additionally, returning employees received a 7% raise on average.

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“Many employers are willing to rehire people and improve their benefits, too,” Williams adds. “However, we found that nearly a third of employers won’t consider giving people their jobs back, with blue-collar employers being 17% more likely than white-collar employers to feel this way.”

Ultimately, whether your employer welcomes you back with open arms depends on how you left. If you were really unhappy with your job, your manager or the company and made this clear in your resignation letter, it may be unlikely that they’ll consider taking you back.

If you left on good terms and the business was sad to see you go, you may be able to return. However, it’s important to remember that your role may have been filled or your responsibilities distributed among the remaining employees.

Amy Wilkinson, a career coach, says as a rule of thumb, getting an old job is unlikely. If you’ve only just handed in your notice, you may be able to withdraw your resignation. However, an employer is under no obligation to accept that withdrawal.

“If you have a good relationship with your former employer, handed your notice in on good terms and the business is keen to retain you, then they may well accept you back – particularly in light of the costs of recruiting to replace you,” says Wilkinson. “It’s always worth a conversation if you’ve had a change of heart but there are no guarantees.”

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If you do decide to approach your former employer about getting your job back, be open and honest about why you want it. If you left to pursue a new career but found out it wasn’t for you, your employer will likely appreciate your honesty.

It’s also important to consider whether you truly want an old job back. It’s easy to focus on the positives of a previous role if you are currently unhappy at work. However, it’s likely you had good reasons to quit in the first place. The problems or grievances you had may not have been resolved, so you may end up regretting your return.

Finally, it’s worth thinking about how your decision to leave in the first place may have impacted your relationships at the company. Colleagues may have found themselves with a greater workload after you quit, or your boss may still be harbouring a grudge.

If you’re sure you want an old job back, it’s worth asking – but be wary that it may not bring you the happiness you’re looking for.

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