Level 2
Withdraw, cancel, or force-withdraw leave
Use the correct recovery action depending on the request's current status and payroll impact.
- Who can do this
- Employee, manager, or payroll admin depending on action
- Last verified
- 2026-06-06
- Steps
- 4
- Product area
- Payroll
Prepare these items.
- Know the current leave status.
- Know whether payroll has already used the leave.
- Have a reason for withdrawal/cancellation.
Follow the workflow.
-
1
Find the leave request
Open the employee or leave management view and locate the request by dates/status.
Expected result The request status is visible.
Leave request row
Click target: Leave request row -
2
Cancel draft/open request
Use Cancel when the request has not progressed to approval or payroll impact.
Expected result Request status changes to Cancelled.
Cancel
Click target: Cancel -
3
Withdraw submitted/approved request
Use Withdraw or Withdrawal Request according to the visible status and approval rules.
Expected result Withdrawal status is visible.
Withdraw
Click target: Withdraw -
4
Force withdraw with care
Payroll administrators should use Force Withdraw only when normal status actions cannot resolve the record safely.
Expected result Audit trail shows the forced action.
Force withdraw
Click target: Force withdraw
Confirm before you finish.
- Correct status action was used.
- Payroll impact is reviewed.
- Audit trail explains the decision.
Recover without losing control.
- If payroll already used the leave, review affected payslips.
- If unsure, do not force withdraw until payroll impact is known.