Leave of absence letter for personal reasons (Samples)

In this guide we will see some examples of a leave of absence letter for personal reasons and some considerations when writing one.

Leave of absence letter for personal reasons

When writing a leave of absence letter for personal reasons we have to consider that if you have a contract and a professional relationship (employer-employee) then you need to write a request or application for a leave of absence.

On the internet are many formal letter samples and even samples of resignation letters (left in the recommended reading section) to be prepared if your request gets denied. 

There are several personal reasons we could name when talking about a leave of absence due to personal reasons such as being ill (medical leave/sick leave), the birth of a child, losing a loved one, work related stress, moving to a new house, etc.

Depending on your employer, they will offer you several options such as asking for holiday or sending an unpaid leave request letter, according to their internal policies on what is considered as paid/unpaid leave and if it is possible to grant it.

NOTE: before sending a formal application for a leave of absence letter for personal reasons, try to discuss it  first with your manager/supervisor/boss so you can also talk about your current options.

Here we have compiled a few examples but remember you will need to adapt it to your personal circumstances.

What should I include in my leave of absence letter for personal reasons?

It is important to remember to keep it simple, polite and professional. Start by stating how much time you need/require for leave of absence and when you will return.

Also, include a brief explanation of the reasons why you need/require the leave and if possible (only if you feel comfortable) state where you will be while you are away.

In addition, if possible state how you can help or assist to make a smooth transition while you are away, for instance if you can train your replacement before you leave or if you can leave a written manual of your activities and a step-by-step (How-to) guide. 

Always thank your employer for considering your request and be prepared if they decide to deny or reject it. 

Sample 1:

“Your Name

Your Address

Your City, Postal code

Your Phone Number

Date

Name

Title

Organization

Address

City, State Postal code

Dear Mr./Ms. [Lastname]:

I would like to formally request a two-month leave of absence for personal reasons. If possible, I would like the leave from work to begin on August 1, 2019, with a return date of October 1, 2019.

If approved, I will be staying with family in [Any city] during this time period, and I would be glad to assist with any questions via email or phone whenever possible.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name”

Sample 2: (email)

“Subject: Leave of Absence Request—Michaela Fox

Dear John,

As we discussed, I am requesting a personal leave of absence from work for family reasons from January 15, 2020, through February 28, 2020.

If approved, I will return to the office on March 1, 2020. I’d be glad to assist with planning for covering my responsibilities when I am away.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Best,

Michaela”

Sample 3:

“Your Name

Your Address

Your City, postal code

Your Phone Number

Date

Supervisor’s Name

Title

Organization

Address

City, postal 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, 2019, through June 30, 2019.

I will return to work on July 1, 2019.

Please let me know whether you require any further information or have any questions.

Thank you very much for your consideration in affording me this opportunity for personal leave.

Sincerely,

Your Signature (hard copy letter)

Your Typed Name”

Sample 4: (email)

“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, 2019, to December 31, 2019, returning to work on January 1, 2020.

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 whether you require any additional information. Thank you very much for your consideration of my request.

Best,

John”

Sample 5: (medical leave of absence)

“Aug. 8, 20XX

Roberto Diaz

ABC Company, Inc.

1234 E. Main St.

City, postal code

Dear Mr. Diaz,

I am writing to request a one-month medical leave of absence beginning Monday, Sept. 10, and ending Wednesday, Oct. 10. I will be having surgery—my surgeon has ordered a minimum three-week recovery period (see doctor’s signed recommendation attached.)

I am happy to assist in handling any necessary preparations before beginning my leave, including training colleagues on upcoming projects. Thank you so much for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Dave Smith”

Sample 6:

“Name of Employee

Address of Employee

City, postal code

DATE

Name of Supervisor or other person responsible for leave

Title

Name of Company

Address of Company

City, postal code

RE: Requesting Leave of Absence

​

Dear Name of Supervisor,  

As you may already know, my young daughter is having some serious health problems. Although she’s seen a number of different health care providers and endured many tests to address the problem, she unfortunately needs surgery. She requires a serious neuro-based type of surgery and therefore I will need to be at her side and care for her for a number of weeks while she recovers. I am sorry to say that I need the full 12 weeks that are allowed under the FMLA policy. 

Her doctor has already filled out the request from that I obtained from the human resources department. Because I respect the company I work for and am trying to be as fair as possible, I am giving you a full month’s notice so you’ll have enough time to make adequate arrangements to cover my position while I’m away. My daughter’s surgery is scheduled for June 22, 20xx. I intend to work up until the previous Friday on June 19 to ensure that my job is covered. 

I am more than willing to train someone to do my job or wrap up any business matters if you like. I expect to return on Monday, September 14, 20xx. As of right now, these are the anticipated dates for her surgery and my time of leave. If anything changes I will let you know immediately. Hopefully I can return before September 14 if all goes better than expected and retain my current position in the company. 

I truly appreciate your consideration and understanding concerning this sensitive matter. I respect both you and the company and feel it’s been an honor to work here over the past 12 years. Again, thank you for understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, I intend to be here every day until June 19 to talk with you.

Sincerely,

​

Signature of Employee

Name of Employee printed

List of enclosure”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References 

Doyle, A. (2020, Jan.) Formal Leave of Absence Letter Request Example. Retrieved from Thebalancecareers.com.

Sample-resignation-letters.com: “How to Write a Leave of Absence Letter for Personal Reasons”

Doyle, A. (2020, Jan.) Leave of Absence Letter for Personal Reasons Example.Thebalancecareers.com.

Indeed.com: “Leave of Absence Letter Request (With Examples)”.