Resignation does not by itself turn unused leave into an agreed early departure. Your employment end date, days physically worked, approved leave, and any release from duties are separate matters.
Ask for the current balance
Confirm how the employer records entitlement already taken, current requests, and any carried days. Rules can depend on the departure date and contract. Avoid announcing a final office day until leave is actually approved.
Define a reasonable handover
List active responsibilities, the next decision, a named internal owner, and where approved records are stored. Focus on continuity rather than producing an exhaustive memoir of the role. Sensitive employer information should stay in authorised systems.
Record agreements
If HR confirms leave, garden leave, equipment return, or a changed end date, keep the written confirmation. A mutually agreed earlier departure is not the same thing as unilaterally selecting a shorter notice period.
Where leave entitlement, overtime, bonus timing, or release wording carries significant value, seek individual legal advice before signing an agreement.