> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://absentify.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Canceling absence requests for employees

> How managers in absentify can cancel pending or approved absence requests on behalf of employees in their department, including allowance restoration.

As a manager, you can cancel absence requests for employees in your department. This helps you manage absences effectively and address changes in scheduling needs. Depending on your organization’s settings, you may also be able to cancel requests for past or ongoing absences.

<iframe src="https://demo.arcade.software/WQBqY3DfhClj9ubQHlS1?embed&embed_mobile=inline&embed_desktop=inline&show_copy_link=false" title="Managing users in absentify" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen allow="clipboard-write" className="responsive-iframe" />

## Cancel a future absence request

You can cancel any future absence request for employees in your department. To do this:

1. Locate the absence request you want to cancel.
2. Select the request to open the absence details popup.
3. Select the **trash icon** in the bottom-left corner of the popup and select **Cancel request**.
4. Provide a reason for the cancellation in the prompt.
5. Confirm the cancellation.

Once canceled, the request will be removed from the employee’s calendar, and all relevant parties (e.g., the employee and approvers) will receive an email notification.

***

## Cancel past or ongoing absence request

If the **[Retroactive absence management by department manager](/docs/en/roles/hr_admins/settings/general/privacy#retroactive-absence-management-by-department-manager)** setting is enabled by your workspace administrator, you can also cancel absences that:

* Have already started, or
* Have occurred in the past.

This is useful for correcting errors or addressing unforeseen changes. When retroactive absence management is disabled, this feature remains exclusive to administrators.

To cancel a past or ongoing absence:

1. Follow the same steps as for future requests (above).
2. Confirm the cancellation in the prompt.

<Info>
  **Note**: Regular employees cannot cancel their own past or ongoing absences. This functionality is only available to managers (if enabled) and administrators.
</Info>

***

## Cancel a recurring absence request

If the absence is part of a recurring series, the available cancellation options depend on whether the request has already started and whether retroactive absence management is enabled in your workspace.

To cancel a recurring request:

1. Open the calendar and select the absence you want to cancel.
2. In the detail view, select the **trash icon** to start the cancellation.
3. A dialog will appear prompting you to choose how you want to cancel the request.

### If the series **has not started yet**

You will see the following options:

* **Only this occurrence** – cancels just the selected date.
* **This occurrence and all future requests** – cancels the selected occurrence and every later occurrence in the series. Earlier occurrences remain unchanged. This option appears when the selected occurrence has later active occurrences.
* **Entire series** – cancels all occurrences in the series.

### If the series **has already started** (some dates are in the past)

The available options depend on your workspace settings:

**If retroactive absence management is disabled:**

* **Only this occurrence** – cancels just the selected date.
* **This occurrence and all future requests** – cancels the selected occurrence and every later occurrence in the series. Past occurrences before the selected date cannot be canceled.

**If retroactive absence management is enabled:**

* **Only this occurrence** – cancels just the selected date.
* **This occurrence and all future requests** – cancels the selected occurrence and every later occurrence in the series.
* **All occurrences (including past)** – cancels the entire series, including past and future dates.

4. Select your preferred option and select **Continue** to confirm the cancellation.

<Warning>
  Cancellations cannot be undone. Make sure to double-check before confirming.
</Warning>

***

## Key considerations

* **Notification emails**: Any cancellation triggers an email notification to all relevant parties, including the employee and approvers.
* **Access limitations**: Managers can only cancel requests for employees within their assigned departments. If you cannot cancel a request, contact your workspace administrator to verify your permissions.
* **Record keeping**: Canceled requests remain logged in the system for audit purposes, with the reason for cancellation visible to authorized users.

If you need assistance or encounter issues with canceling requests, contact your workspace administrator for support.

***