How to Write a Letter Requesting the Basis for a Termination From Employment

Losing your job may leave you with many uncertainties ranging from new employment endeavors to reasons of your initial termination. State employment laws and any applicable employment contract may entitle you to the terms and reasons for your job loss. If you did not receive a termination letter, write a letter asking for the basis of the firing. You can use the letter to explain your termination in future employment interviews, if necessary.

Instructions

1. Write your address centered at the top of the page. Include the date beneath your address, on the left-hand side of the page. According to Advanced Etiquette, you should type out the entire date -- do not use abbreviations.

2. Write your employer's address beneath the date on the left side of the page. Use separate lines for your employer's name, title, the company name, if applicalbe, and street address, including suite number. Beneath the street address, type the following the city, state and zip code on one line.

3. Address the letter to your boss. Use a professional salutation such as "Dear Mr./Mrs. [Name]."

4. State, briefly, the background for the letter in the first few sentences. Start by writing "As you are aware, on [date] my services were deemed no longer necessary at [company name]. I am writing this letter to request the reason(s) for my termination."

5. List the specific information you desire. You can use the employer's response as a reference letter in the future, so aside from the reason of termination, you also want to request the official length of your employment and job duties.

6. Thank the employer for her time. Sign the letter. If you email your letter, set your email settings to provide a receipt of notice. For post mail, use certified mail.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the employer what he intends to say about your job performance and the reason you were let go. According to the website JobJournal, try to work with the employer and come up with an agreement as to the specific wording.

• The tone of the letter should be polite and professional. Avoid getting emotional.

• State employment laws do not always require an employer to give you an explanation --- verbal or in writing --- about why you were fired. In California, for example, employers do not need to provide a reason for termination unless you were in a union. In contrast, Missouri law allows an employee to ask the employer for a service letter, provided the employee worked for the employer for at least 90 days and the employer had at least seven employees.

References

• "St. Petersberg Times"; How to Handle Being Fired; Denver Post; December 2010
• Job Journal; Getting Past the Sting and Stigma of Being Fired; Julia Hollister; May 2002
• Can My Boss Do That: Why Was I Fired? Service Letters -- California
• Can My Boss Do That: Why Was I Fired? Service Letters -- Missouri
• Advanced Etiquette: Letter Writing Etiquette