Do you need to take a leave of absence from work? If so, it’s important to put your request in writing, both for documentation purposes and to make it easier for your manager to understand what you’re asking for.
Below is a request letter for advance of salary written to an employer. The letter should be written in formal business style, and if there are any forms required by the employer, they should be included with the letter. It should be sent by certified mail and a copy kept by the sender. Sample Request Letter for advance salary. Writing a Request Letter for Training Course? So, use this sample request letter for training course as a template for your successful training request letter. Continued training in a particular field is an important aspect of career development and professional growth.
Asking for leave in writing also increases the chances that your manager will grant your request, and helps maintain your standing at work to minimize the fallout for your career.
The Process for Requesting a Leave From Work
The typical process for requesting a formal leave of absence from work is to discuss your situation with your manager or human resources department.
You should first write a letter (or, more typically, an email) to your direct supervisor requesting a meeting to discuss whether and how you should apply for a leave of absence.
![Request Request](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8b/08/ec/8b08ec0442bf57a4be8453cc6da4dc86.jpg)
- Your reason for needing a leave of absence (such as the birth or adoption of a child, personal or family health issues, loss of a loved one, or relief from excessive job stress)
- The things you are willing to do to help prepare for your absence (examples: training your replacement, writing a detailed handbook of your daily work processes, or offering to remain available for questions during your absence)
- The dates of departure and return to work that you are anticipating
- A request for your supervisor’s assistance in helping you to negotiate the leave of absence process with senior management and/or your human resources department
Once you have attended this meeting with your supervisor, follow up on the conversation with a written request for a leave of absence. This will go in your personnel file, in order to initiate the formal leave of absence process and to provide documentation so that your leave can be approved.
Your company may have a policy in place for requesting leaves from work that specifies reasons a leave may be granted and how much time employees are eligible to use.
Check your employee handbook for details. If a policy is in place, be sure to adhere to those guidelines for requesting a leave of absence.
Dos and Don’ts for Requesting a Leave of Absence
It’s important to ask for your leave in the best possible way. The following guidelines will help you write a request that’s effective, professional and considerate.
- Give as much notice as possible. It takes time to arrange coverage for your work and to deal with the HR requirements associated with leave.
- Know your rights. The Family and Medical Leave act entitles many employees to unpaid leave to deal with medical conditions and family needs, such as the birth or adoption of a child or emergencies related to a family member’s active military service. Eligible employees who work for companies with 50 or more employees are entitled to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period. Find out if you’re covered before requesting leave.
- Speak to your direct supervisor first, and outline your request in writing.
What to Include in Your Formal Letter
When requesting a formal leave of absence, your letter should include:
- Request for a leave of absence
- The dates you expect to be away from work
- The date you plan to return to work
- An offer to provide assistance, if feasible
- Thanks for considering your request
See below for examples of letters requesting a formal leave, as well as letters and email messages specifying a reason for asking for extended time away from work.
Formal Leave of Absence Letter Request: Written Example
This leave of absence example letter provides a formal request for a leave of absence from work, following a discussion with the employee's supervisor.
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State Zip Code
Your Phone Number
![Certificate Certificate](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/df/9d/81/df9d81057ec67c7dd14d117d14b29410.png)
Date
Supervisor’s Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
This letter is a formal request for a leave of absence, to follow up on our meeting yesterday. As we discussed, I would like to request a leave of absence from April 1 through June 30, 20XX.
I will return to work on July 1, 20XX.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or if you have any questions.
Thank you very much for your consideration in providing me with this opportunity for personal leave.
Sincerely,
Your Signature (hard copy letter)
Your Typed Name
How to Email a Formal Leave of Absence Request
Here's an example of an email message requesting a leave of absence.
Subject: Leave of Absence - John Dooley
Dear Jennifer,
As we discussed yesterday, I would like to request a formal leave of absence from my job. I plan to be away from July 1, 20XX - December 31, 20XX, returning to work on January 1, 20XX.
If approved, I would be glad to help with a plan to cover my workload in my absence. I would also be available to answer questions and provide assistance while I am away.
Please let me know if you need any additional information. Thank you very much for your consideration of my request.
Best,
John
Occasionally – but not always – job advertisements will ask applicants to provide references along with their resume for consideration. Here's the best case scenario if you need to provide references as part of the job application: you departed from previous positions in good standing and have a general letter of reference from your employer attesting to your performance.
But what if you didn't leave on good terms or neglected to ask for a letter? Or, what if you are a recent high school or college grad without work experience? In these cases, you will need to write a reference request letter to someone who can vouch for your potential as an employee.
Appropriate Reference Providers
If you have work experience, professional references can be provided from former supervisors who are familiar with your work history, strengths, and hard and soft skills. If you no longer remember the name of a supervisor or they have moved on, a second option is to contact the Human Resources (HR) department of your previous employers for a reference; they should still have your personnel file available, from which they can glean the information needed for a reference.
A former supervisor or direct manager is the ideal reference provider, since these contacts know you better, and will be able to share a more personalized reference.
Letters from HR tend to simply supply bare bones facts, like the dates of your employment.
If you are a recent graduate, you will probably be writing reference letter requests to former teachers, coaches, work study supervisors, pastors, or the leaders of community groups or extracurricular clubs in which you have participated.
Think carefully about who ask to be your references – you want to select people who will write positively about you. Opt to request references from people with whom you maintained a good rapport. People who know you fairly well will be able to write a specific reference letter, which is more meaningful to potential employers.
What to Include in a Reference Request Letter
When you write a reference request letter, you should provide:
- An introduction explaining to the recipient your need for a reference
- A brief reminder to the recipient of the details of your connection – the dates for which you worked for their organization, the nature of your job, and any unique or outstanding contributions you made to your employer
- The deadline by which you need to submit references
- Your sincere thanks for their assistance in serving as a reference for you
- Your contact information
It’s also a good idea to attach a copy of your resume and copies of the job ads to which you are applying. This will give the recipient valuable information they can use as talking points should an employer contact them to ask about your work history with them.
As well, your letter can include details on points you'd like the reference-giver to mention. You can say, 'The company is looking for XYZ skills, which I think I demonstrated on the ABC project.'
The following sample letter demonstrates how to ask someone to provide a reference for employment. This letter can be sent via email or paper mail. If you request a reference via email, include the following in the subject line of your message: Your Name - Reference Request.
Requesting a Reference Letter Sample
This is a reference request letter example. Download the reference request letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.
Requesting a Reference Letter Sample (Text Version)
John Smith
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
111-111-1111
[email protected]
March 1, 2018
Brian Doe Manager
ABC Company
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321
Dear Mr. Doe,
I am writing to ask whether it would be possible for you to provide a reference for me. As you know, I worked as an Assistant Manager for you between August 1, 2013 and September 1, 2017, during which time I maintained a perfect attendance record and earned high scores on my performance evaluations. If you would be able to attest to my qualifications for employment and to the skills I attained during my tenure at ABC Company, I would sincerely appreciate it.
I am in the process of seeking employment as an Assistant Manager and a positive reference from you would enhance my prospects of achieving my career goals; I need to have my list of references ready to submit by June 18, 2018.
Please let me know if there is any information I can provide regarding my experience to assist you in giving me a reference; I’ve attached my resume for your review. I can be reached at [email protected] or (111) 111-1111.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Signature (hard copy letter)
John Smith
Maintaining Communications with Your References
The most powerful references come from people who know you well and support your candidacy. That's why it's important to keep up a relationship with your references all the time - not just when you're writing to request a reference.
After someone gives you a reference, always follow-up with an update, whether you got a job offer or did not. Remember to say thank you - it takes time and effort to be someone's reference, and that should be acknowledged. Finally, stay in touch once you've landed a job. That can be as simple as sending over an email to say hello, writing a comment on social media, or meeting up for coffee. This will make it easier to ask for a reference in the future (and will also make it easier for the person to write the letter about you).
More About References
Sometimes, the person you ask for a reference may ask you to write a draft of the letter yourself. Here are reference letter samples you can review, along with letter samples for character references, and letters asking for a reference.
Looking for your first job? Concerned about the references your employer might give you? Consider using a character reference (personal reference) in addition to or as an alternative to employment reference letters. Here's how to request a character reference.