N.J.A.C. 4A:2-6.2 Resignation not in good standing
N.J.A.C. 4A:2-6.2, Resignation not in good standing. If an employee resigns without complying with the required notice in N.J.A.C. 4A:2-6.1, he or she shall be held as having resigned not in good standing. (b) Full text with 3 recorded amendments, 126 citing decisions.
Current through New Jersey Register, Vol. 58 No. 14, July 20, 2026. Reviewed as of July 26, 2026.
This is an annotated mirror, not the official publication. Verify against the Civil Service Commission before relying on it.
In plain language
You can land here without ever writing a resignation letter. Absence from duty for five or more consecutive business days without a superior approval counts as abandoning the position, and so does failing to return for five or more consecutive business days after an approved leave ends. Both are recorded as a resignation not in good standing, though the rule adds that approval of an absence and a request to extend leave shall not be unreasonably denied. The third route is quitting without the 14 days notice 4A:2-6.1 requires. None of this is unchallengeable. The employee must be given notice and an opportunity for a departmental hearing under 4A:2-2.5, then a Final Notice and a right of appeal to the Commission under 4A:2-2.8, the same machinery as major discipline, and is in unpaid status while the departmental decision is pending. If the resignation is reversed, the remedies at 4A:2-2.10 apply, and either the appointing authority or the Commission may modify it to an appropriate penalty or to a resignation in good standing. That last option matters afterwards: 4A:4-7.10 limits regular reemployment consideration to permanent employees who resigned in good standing, received a general resignation, retired, or voluntarily demoted.
Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of N.J.A.C. 4A:2-6.2. It is a description of the rule, not the rule itself, and not legal advice.
What resigning not in good standing costs you
You may carry this label without ever having resigned. Three routes lead to it, and only the first involves you quitting: leaving without giving the appointing authority the 14 days written or verbal notice that a resignation in good standing requires. The other two are absence rules. Five or more consecutive business days away from duty without your superior's approval is treated as abandonment of your position and recorded as a resignation not in good standing, and so is failing to return for five or more consecutive business days after an approved leave of absence ends. The rule says approval of the absence shall not be unreasonably denied, and that a request to extend leave shall not be unreasonably denied, which is the hook for most disputes about it.
It is contested like a removal, not like a paperwork error. You must be given notice and an opportunity for a departmental hearing under the major discipline rules, then a Final Notice and a right of appeal to the Commission. That appeal runs 20 days from your receipt of the Final Notice, and receipt on a different date by your attorney or union representative does not move the deadline. You are in unpaid status while the departmental decision is pending, and if you try to return to work in the meantime, the immediate suspension review is conducted first. If the resignation is reversed you are entitled to the back pay, benefits and seniority remedies that apply to reversed discipline. The appointing authority or the Commission may also modify it to an appropriate penalty or to a resignation in good standing, so the outcome is not simply on or off.
The consequence the code actually states is narrow and specific: it closes the reemployment door. Regular reemployment is open to a permanent employee who resigned in good standing, received a general resignation, retired or voluntarily demoted, and the regular reemployment list is defined the same way. Police, sheriff's officer and fire reemployment lists are limited to former permanent uniformed members who resigned in good standing. A resignation not in good standing puts you outside every one of those definitions. Requests for reemployment also have to be made within the life of the list, three years from the date of resignation for a regular reemployment list.
Beyond that, Title 4A does not spell out a general penalty. The label is not among the listed causes for denying examination eligibility or appointment. Two of those causes could still be reached on the underlying facts, since removal from the public service for disciplinary reasons after an opportunity for a hearing and a prior employment history that relates adversely to the title are both about what happened rather than what it was called. How a future appointing authority weighs it is not something the rules settle.
Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team. Every statement here traces to the rules cited on this page. It is not legal advice, and a collective agreement may change how these rules apply to you.
(a) If an employee resigns without complying with the required notice in N.J.A.C. 4A:2-6.1, he or she shall be held as having resigned not in good standing. #
(b) Any employee who is absent from duty for five or more consecutive business days without the approval of his or her superior shall be considered to have abandoned his or her position and shall be recorded as a resignation not in good standing. Approval of the absence shall not be unreasonably denied. #
(c) An employee who has not returned to duty for five or more consecutive business days following an approved leave of absence shall be considered to have abandoned his or her position and shall be recorded as a resignation not in good standing. A request for extension of leave shall not be unreasonably denied. #
(d) Where an employee is resigned not in good standing under (a), (b), or (c), the employee shall be provided with notice and an opportunity for a departmental hearing under N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.5, and Final Notice and a right to appeal to the Civil Service Commission under N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.8. An employee shall be in unpaid status pending the departmental decision. Should an employee seek to return to employment pending the departmental decision, a review under N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.5(b) shall be conducted prior to continuation of the unpaid status. #
(e) Where the resignation is reversed, the employee shall be entitled to remedies under N.J.A.C. 4A:2-2.10. #
(f) The appointing authority or the Commission may modify the resignation not in good standing to an appropriate penalty or to a resignation in good standing. #
Amendment history
Rule numbers, effective dates and New Jersey Register citations as published. 3 recorded changes.
- AmendedR.2015 d.18647 N.J.R. 1689(a); 47 N.J.R. 2966(a)
- AmendedR.1992 d.41424 N.J.R. 2491(a); 24 N.J.R. 3716(a)
- date not statedPublic notice22 N.J.R. 3407(b)
How this rule has been applied
126 decisions have cited N.J.A.C. 4A:2-6.2. The list below is citations to those decisions, not the decisions. We have not written summaries for this section. A citation with no summary is deliberate: we do not paraphrase a decision we have not read. Nothing here is legal advice.
Appellate Division (2)
- , No. A-0834-07T12008 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 1729
- , No. A-5890-06T22009 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 350
Civil Service Commission final determinations (73)
- In re Velazquez, Dep't of Transp.2022 N.J. CSC LEXIS 220Docket CSV 01570-21
- In re Felipe, Paterson, Fire Dep't2022 N.J. CSC LEXIS 218Docket CSV 06456-20
- In re Gully, City of Newark, Dep't of Water & Sewer2022 N.J. CSC LEXIS 47; 2022 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 5Docket CSV 10578-20
- In re Whitehead, City of East Orange, Dep't of Policy, Planning & Dev.2021 N.J. CSC LEXIS 445Docket CSV 11252-20
- In re Elliott, Vineland Dev. Ctr., Dep't of Human Servs.2021 N.J. CSC LEXIS 122; 2021 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 97Docket CSV 10528-19
- In re A.G., City of Newark, CSC Docket No. 2017-8222020 N.J. CSC LEXIS 199Docket 2017-822
- In re Wooding New Jersey City Univ., CSC DKT. NO. 2016-7342017 N.J. CSC LEXIS 695
- In re Kinion, City of Paterson, CSC Dkt. No. 2017-16332017 N.J. CSC LEXIS 187
- In re Morrison, Newark Dep't of Eng'r., CSC DKT. NO. 2014-16712014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 465
- In re Lovett, Newark Sch. Dist.2014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 78Docket CSV 15460-13
- In re Lane, Trenton Psychiatric Hosp. Dep't of Human Servs.2014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 372Docket CSV 1366412
- In re Lumford, Hudson Cnty., Dep't of Roads & Public Prop., CSC DKT. NO. 2013-26942013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 1169Docket CSV 05761-13
- In re James Brice, Newark Public Schools2013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 658Docket CSV 10082-12
- In re Smith2009 N.J. CSC LEXIS 1550Docket CSV 241-09
- Fuller v. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 688
- Wright v. Burlington County Juvenile Detention Center97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 555
- Aikens v. Riverfront State Prison97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 422
- Roberts v. Thomas Edison State College97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 382
- Hargis v. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 335
- Gilmore v. Veteran's Memorial Home97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 332
- Miles v. Woodbridge Developmental Center97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 222
- Bogar v. Department of Human Resources97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 189
- Niosi v. Department of Public Works97 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 161
- Gregg v. Woodbine Developmental Center96 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 594
- Littlejohn v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services96 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 471
- Hall v. Bayside State Prison96 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 466
- Clougher v. Hazlet Township96 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 102
- Davis v. North Princeton Developmental Center95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 674
- White v. City of Newark Police95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 599
- Telfair v. Woodbine Developmental Center95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 501
- McGee v. Bergen County Utilities95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 486
- Giglio v. Department of Labor95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 367
- Mills v. Montgomery Medical Home95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 353
- Rodriquez v. Department of Corrections95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 254
- Matter of Wilkins95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 203
- Bucci v. Department of Human Services95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 111
- Lisowski v. Department of Buildings95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 98
- Lisowski v. Buildings and Operations Department, Camden County95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 98
- Williams v. City of Trenton95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 87
- Williams v. City of Trenton95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 87
- Washington v. Department of Human Services95 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 1
- Boisvert v. Sea Isle City. 94 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 571.94 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 571
- Randall v. City of Newark Housing Authority94 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 477
- Goel v. Newark Department of Engineering94 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 546
- Bogdan v. Garden State Reception and Youth Correctional Facility94 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 426
- LaBenz v. Cape May County Department of Facilities and Services94 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 88
- Wilkins v. Bergen County Board of Social Services93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 780
- McNeil v. Department of Transportation93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 742
- Williams v. Northern States Prison93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 701
- Singley v. Woodbridge Developmental Center93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 606
- Lee v. Monmouth County Department of Public Works93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 452
- Boston v. Woodbridge Developmental Center, State Dept. of Human Services93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 413
- Boston v. Woodbridge Developmental Center93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 413
- Randall v. Newark Housing Authority93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 185
- Key v. New Lisbon Developmental Center93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 138
- Green v. Gloucester County Board of Social Services93 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 36
- Lick v. Trenton Public Works Department92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 765
- Cooke v. Monmouth County Board of Social Service92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 666
- Reardon v. Monmouth County92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 583
- Miller v. Crest Haven Nursing Home, Cape May County92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 560
- Turner v. Newark Housing Authority92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 403
- Drakeford v. North Jersey Development Center92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 333
- Thomas v. Northern State Prison92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 329
- Powell v. North Princeton Developmental Center92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 301
- Estate of Hoffman v. State Dept. of Corrections92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 286
- Tierney v. State Department of the Treasury92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 229
- Mason v. Cumberland County92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 210
- Carvale v. Department of Public Works, City of Trenton92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 187
- Martin v. Forensic Psychiatric Hospital92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 179
- Eigenmann v. Vineland Developmental Center92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 136
- Moore v. Central Transp., New Jersey Dept. of Corrections92 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 98
- Johnson v. City of Camden Police Dept.91 N.J.A.R.2d (CSV) 13
- Valluzzi v. Bergen County10 N.J.A.R. 89
Office of Administrative Law initial decisions (51)
- In re Turner, N.J. Dep’t of Military & Veterans' Affairs2025 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 76Docket CSV 10638-24
- In re Bartos, Dep't of Transp.2023 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 168Docket CSV 08374-20
- In re Velazquez, Dep't of Transp.2022 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 99Docket CSV 01570-21
- In re Marinnie, Dep't of Human Servs., Trenton Psych. Hosp.2019 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 85
- In re Sanchez, Town of West N.Y., Dep't of Parks & Pub. Prop.2019 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 194Docket CSV 05728-18
- In re Swaggerty, Atlantic Cnty. Dep't of Cmty. Dev. & Econ. Assistance2018 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 612Docket CSV 05604-17
- Waddleton v. City of Jersey City2018 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 452Docket LID 16351-16
- In re Calloway, Northern State Prison, Dep't of Corrs.2018 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 376
- In re Mitchell, Borough of Wildwood Crest Dep't of Pub. Safety2018 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 399Docket CSV 12849-12
- In re Hines, Woodbine Developmental Ctr., Dep't of Human Servs.2018 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 261Docket CSV 15927-16
- In re Kinion, City of Paterson, Div. of Bus. Admin.2018 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 10Docket CSV 03717-17
- (CONSOLIDATED)2017 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 722
- Mendez v. City of Newark, Water & Sewers, OAL DOCKET NO. CSV 15234-162017 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 68
- In re Lourenco, City of Newark, Water & Sewer Utils.2015 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 491Docket CSV 03945-12
- In re Wint, Jersey City Pub. Schls.2015 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 752Docket CSV 8575-15
- In re Petti, Ocean Cty. Health Dep't2015 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 285Docket CSV 13806-13
- In re Ruggiero, City of Hoboken Dep't of Transp. & Parking2014 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 437Docket CSV 17224-13
- Manuel Suarez v. Town of West New York Dep't. of Public Safety2014 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 416Docket 2013-2438
- In re Ravin Morrison, City of Newark Dep't. of Eng'g.2014 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 359Docket CSV 00844-14
- In re Jackie Lovett, State-Operated Sch. Dist. of the City of Newark2014 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 89Docket CSV 15460-13
- In re Cassandra E. Jones, Essex County, Department of Citizen ServicesDocket CSV 00037-13
- In re Marcia Davis, Mountainview Juvenile Correction Facility, Department of Corrections2013 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 188Docket CSV 07672-12
- In re Linda Tisby, Camden Cnty. Corr. Facility2013 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 572
- In re Linda Tisby, Camden Cnty. Corr. Facility2013 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 92
- In re McClain, City of Newark Police Dep't2012 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 742
- In re Jackson2009 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 790Docket CSV 10620-08
- In re White2009 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 962Docket CSV 060-09
- In re Bridges2009 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 995Docket CSV 7819-07
- In re Montgomery2009 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 889Docket CSV 02307-08
- In re Simisak2009 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 823Docket CSV 6156-08
- In re Mickens2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1206Docket CSV 07248-08
- In re Cannuli2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1059Docket CSV 4533-07
- In re Uhland2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 583Docket CSV 08226-02
- In re Hidalgo2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1433Docket CSV 4029-07
- In re Hammie2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 554Docket CSV 4526-07
- In re Purkett2008 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 529Docket CSV 13063-05
- In re Morrison, City of NewarkDocket CSV03885-07
- 2007 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 666Docket CSV 00478-07
- In re Braswell2007 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1178Docket CSV 09148-06
- In re Porter2007 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 347Docket CSV 1146-06
- In re Dunmore2007 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1171Docket CSV 8687-05
- In re Pearn2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1124Docket CSV 7739-05
- In re Pearn2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1124Docket CSV 7739-05
- In re Harris2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 797Docket CSV 03968-05
- In re Mortimer2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 543Docket CSV 6378-05
- In re Mortimer2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 543Docket CSV 6378-05
- In re Taylor2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 102Docket CSV 2842-05
- In re Amparbin2005 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1078Docket CSV 1547-03
- In re Hunt2005 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1248Docket CSV 11479-04
- In re Sykes2005 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1195Docket CSV 4461-04
- In re Sykes2005 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 1195Docket CSV 4461-04
This rule points to
- 4A:2-2.10 Back pay, benefits and seniority
- 4A:2-2.5 Opportunity for hearing before the appointing authority
- 4A:2-2.8 Appeals to Civil Service Commission
- 4A:2-6.1 Resignation in good standing