Leave of Absence

How to Request a Leave of Absence from Work (Plus Free HR Templates)

At some point in your career, you may need to take a extended break from work. Whether you are navigating personal or health matters, welcoming a new child, recovering from burnout, coping with the loss of a loved one, or taking time to travel, requesting a Leave of Absence (LOA) requires careful planning.

What Is a Leave of Absence?

A leave of absence is an officially approved, temporary period away from work. Depending on your employer, requesting time off might involve an informal chat or a structured HR approval workflow.

It is important to remember that outside of statutory protections—such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), military duty, or jury duty—employers are generally not legally obligated to approve personal leave or offer paid time off.

Streamline Your Request

To make the process smooth and professional, use our Short Request for Leave of Absence HR Template. Designed to save time and effort for both employees and HR departments, this template ensures your formal request includes all essential details for a seamless review and approval.

What to do before you ask for a leave?

Regardless of the reason why you are applying for leave, it is very important to approach the leave request properly, in order to create a minimal reaction and maintain your good standing at work.

Requesting and obtaining a leave of absence when you work in a casual environment can be as simple as saying to your boss, "I need a short leave of absence. Would it be possible to take this leave from my work for the period of one month in the next three months?" In a more formal workplace, you may need to structure your request according to the applicable company policy. The company may have specific guidelines for who is eligible for a leave, and when and how often leave of absence can be taken.

Before submitting your leave request, be sure to be acquainted with the applicable company's or school's leave-of-absence policies. Also, make sure you have a well-practiced explanation for the leave on hand. Make a decision before presenting the topic about what your next move will be if your request is turned down by your supervisor or principal.

These request for a leave of absence example letters provide examples of written requests for a leave of absence from work or school for personal reasons. The letter templates offer to answer questions while the employee is on leave and provide a return date for returning to work.

This Request for a short or longer leave of absence has ways to grab your employer’s attention. The request is drafted by HR professionals, intelligently structured and easy to navigate, so it will definitely fit your needs.

When applying, it's important to understand your legal rights regarding time off and pay, therefore:

Make the request in person;
Give sufficient advance notice;
If possible, work with your boss to develop an agreeable plan;
Keep track of relevant paperwork;

Eligible reasons to take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) include:

Birth of a baby and care of the baby;
Adoption of a child;
Care for a sick immediate member of the family member (like a spouse, child or parent);
The employee is sick with a serious health condition.

Check out our Leave of Absence Letter template now:

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