Resignation Letter Due to Health Issue: 7 Samples to Copy

By Mustafa Tarabya, founder of CVBooster · Published 2026-10-07 · Updated 2026-10-07

8 min read

A resignation letter due to a health issue needs four things and nothing more: that you are resigning, that the reason is your health, your last working day, and an offer to help with the handover. You do not have to name a diagnosis, describe symptoms or attach a doctor's note. The one constraint comes before the letter: once you resign, any leave or accommodation you might have had is gone, so check your options under the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act first. Both are quoted below from the Department of Labor and the EEOC, followed by seven samples. Written by Mustafa Tarabya, who hired for his own company, read every application himself and now writes CVBooster's guides.

Writing this letter is hard enough without trying to explain your medical history to a manager who mostly wants to know who covers Thursday. Keep it short. Short is kind to you and clear for them.

A short resignation letter due to health reasons

Most people need this version: polite, brief and private. It works for hourly and salaried jobs alike.

Complete Entry level: short letter with two weeks notice example, 88 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Entry level: short letter with two weeks notice (88 words)

Dear Ms. Carver,

Please accept this letter as my resignation from my position as Sales Associate at Brookline Home Goods. Due to health reasons, I am no longer able to continue in the role. My last day will be Friday, October 23.

Over the next two weeks I am happy to help train whoever covers my shifts and to finish the stock count in the garden section.

Thank you for your patience and kindness during my time here. I have enjoyed working with the team.

Sincerely, Jordan Whitfield

Tailor my CV to this job

Check this before you resign

Resigning ends the job, and with it any protected leave you might have been able to take. Two federal laws are worth five minutes before you send anything.

FMLA leave. The Department of Labor FMLA fact sheet lists "A serious health condition that makes the employee unable to work" among the reasons for protected leave, and says "Employees must be restored to the same or virtually identical position when they return to work after FMLA leave." Not everyone qualifies: the same fact sheet says employees are eligible if "they work for a covered employer for at least 12 months, have at least 1,250 hours of service with the employer during the 12 months before their FMLA leave starts, and work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles."

ADA accommodation. If your condition is a disability, you may be able to keep the job with changes to hours, duties or location. The EEOC guidance on reasonable accommodation says "Reasonable accommodation is available to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities." It also says "A request for reasonable accommodation is the first step in an informal, interactive process between the individual and the employer." The Job Accommodation Network explains that process and has ideas sorted by condition.

If you have already looked at both and leaving is still right, the samples below cover the common situations.

Resignation letter due to health and stress

Stress and burnout are health reasons. You can say "health reasons" and stop there, or mention the workload if you want the employer to know. Do not write the letter while angry: it goes in your file.

Complete Mid level: health and stress, two weeks notice example, 109 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Mid level: health and stress, two weeks notice (109 words)

Dear Mr. Okafor,

I am writing to resign from my role as Accounts Payable Specialist, effective two weeks from today. My last working day will be November 6.

This was not an easy decision. My health has been affected over the past few months and my doctor has advised me to step back from work for a period so I can recover properly.

Before I leave I will document the month end process, hand over the open vendor queries to Priya, and make sure the approval log is up to date.

Thank you for the support you have given me over the last three years.

Kind regards, Dana Morales

Immediate resignation letter for health reasons

Sometimes two weeks is not possible. Say so plainly, apologize once, and make the handover as easy as you can from home.

Complete Entry level: immediate resignation, no notice possible example, 99 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Entry level: immediate resignation, no notice possible (99 words)

Dear Kevin,

I am sorry to tell you that I need to resign from my position as Line Cook at Harbor Street Grill, effective immediately. Due to a sudden health issue, I am unable to work and cannot give the usual two weeks notice.

I know this leaves the kitchen short, and I apologize for that. I have left my prep notes and the ordering list in the office binder, and I can answer questions by text over the next few days.

Please send my final paycheck to my home address on file.

Thank you for understanding, Marcus Bell

Resignation letter after medical leave

If you have been on leave and know you cannot come back, the letter closes the loop and points to the paperwork that still matters to you, such as benefits and final pay. The notice letters sample page has more formats for notice periods.

Complete Mid level: resigning after leave runs out example, 91 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Mid level: resigning after leave runs out (91 words)

Dear Ms. Lindqvist,

Thank you for your support during my medical leave. After talking with my doctor, I have decided I am not able to return to my position as Medical Receptionist at Lakeview Family Practice, and I am resigning effective October 30.

I would be grateful if HR could send me information about my final paycheck, any unused paid time off, and options for continuing my health insurance.

It has been a privilege to work with the front desk team. I hope to stay in touch.

Best regards, Elena Ruiz

Manager resignation letter due to health issue

Senior people owe a longer handover. Offer a plan and a date, and name who can cover. For resignations that have nothing to do with health, use our free resignation letter examples.

Complete Senior level: department manager with a transition plan example, 121 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Senior level: department manager with a transition plan (121 words)

Dear Ms. Thornbury,

I am writing to formally resign as Operations Manager at Calloway Supply, with my last day on November 20. For health reasons I need to step away from a full time leadership role, and I have decided it is fairer to the team to give a clear date now.

To keep things steady, I suggest the following over the next four weeks: Tom Reyes takes over the daily shift meetings from next Monday, I hand over the carrier contracts and the budget file by November 6, and I stay available to the new manager for questions until my last day.

Thank you for nine good years. I am proud of what this team has built.

Sincerely, Laura Kessler

Tailor my CV to this job

Resignation letter due to a family member's health

Health reasons include caring for someone else. FMLA leave also covers "The care for a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition", according to the Department of Labor fact sheet linked above, so check that first.

Complete Mid level: leaving to care for a parent example, 81 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Mid level: leaving to care for a parent (81 words)

Dear Mr. Ashford,

Please accept my resignation from my position as Customer Success Manager, effective two weeks from today. My father's health has declined and I need to be available to care for him full time.

I will use my remaining time to hand my accounts to the team, update every client record and introduce the new contacts on calls this week.

Thank you for understanding, and for the flexibility you gave me over the last month.

Warm regards, Simone Patel

Resignation email due to health reasons

If your workplace runs on email, send the letter as an email with a clear subject line, then attach a signed copy if HR asks for one.

Complete Entry level: short resignation email example, 51 words, laid out as it would sit in the application form

Entry level: short resignation email (51 words)

Subject: Resignation, Alex Romero

Hi Tanya,

I am resigning from my role as Warehouse Associate for health reasons. My last shift will be Saturday, October 24.

I can help train someone on the returns station before then. Please let me know what HR needs from me.

Thanks for everything, Alex Romero

What not to put in the letter

Your diagnosis, symptoms or test results. "Health reasons" is enough.
Blame. Even if the job made you ill, the letter goes in your file and may be read by the next employer who calls for a reference.
Promises you cannot keep, such as coming back in three months.

If you would rather fill in a form than write from scratch, the resignation letter generator builds one in a few minutes. For timing, the 2 weeks notice guide covers what to say and when, and the resignation acceptance letter page shows what your manager will usually send back.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to tell my employer my medical condition when I resign?

No. "For health reasons" is a complete explanation in a resignation letter. You can choose to say more, but you are not required to name a condition or share records. If you are asking for leave or an accommodation instead of resigning, your employer may ask for medical documentation, which is a different process.

Can I resign immediately for health reasons?

Yes, in most US jobs, because most employment is at will, but check your contract or handbook for a notice requirement and any effect on unused paid time off. Say in the letter that you cannot give notice because of a health issue, apologize once, and offer what handover you can from home.

Should I mention stress or burnout in my resignation letter?

You can, briefly and without blame. Writing that your health has been affected and you need time to recover is clear and professional. Avoid listing complaints about workload or a manager in the letter itself. If you want to raise them, an exit interview is the better place.

Should I try medical leave before resigning?

Usually, yes. If you qualify for FMLA leave, the Department of Labor fact sheet says you must be restored to the same or a virtually identical position afterwards. If your condition is a disability, an ADA accommodation may let you stay. Resign after you have checked both, not before.

Will I get unemployment if I quit for health reasons?

It depends on your state. Some states accept a documented health reason as good cause for quitting and others do not. Contact your state unemployment office before you resign, and keep a copy of your letter and any doctor's advice in case you are asked for it.

Looking for a worked example for your job title? Browse the resume examples by job title.

Get your free ATS score · All articles