When you believe that you have been wrongfully terminated, unfairly warned, laid off, demoted, fired, or not reasonably considered for a job opening, you may appeal the decision to your employer. However, if that fails, there is a higher chance of success if you can prove that it was a discriminatory or retaliatory action by showing what happened. You can do this by drafting and sending a letter of appeal for reconsideration.
A letter of appeal for reconsideration will help ensure that the higher authority who influences hiring and company decisions and policies will read your appeal. The appeal letter for reconsideration will outline precisely what transpired and how the decisions negatively impacted your career goals and life plans. The letter will help you ask for one last chance to prove yourself and give the company another chance to reconsider its decision.
Formally,
A Letter of Appeal for Reconsideration is a request (or letter) to an administrative body (usually the same person who made the original decision) asking them to review their decision.
If a potential employer or hiring manager decides not to select you, you can submit a letter of appeal for reconsideration. The letter is intended to persuade the employer/hiring manager to re-review your application as well as other additional information such as your educational background and level of expertise. You may also submit a letter of appeal when applying for benefits or authorization from a government body or institution that has denied your application or request. The letter can also be sent after receiving a denial or refusal on your initial request or an unfavorable response from an appeals board.
How to Write a Letter of Appeal for Reconsideration
Writing a letter of appeal for reconsideration can be your last chance to convince the hiring manager/potential employer to acknowledge your concerns and act upon them. A good letter should have an honest recount of the situation and should be addressed to the right person depending on the company’s hierarchy or level of authority. The letter should also contain all the key elements to convince them that their decision might have been unfair.
Additionally, the letter should explain why you are writing, how long you have been with the company, and your role in the situation that warranted this appeal, then explain why you believe there were issues with how the case was handled.
Here is a breakdown of all the key elements that should be included in the letter of appeal for reconsideration:
Introduction
A letter of appeal for reconsideration should be directed to the right person (a person of authority within the company or even someone with power over the original decision-maker). It should include your contact information (including email address) as well as the date. Also, make sure to include the recipients’ contact information.
Check your previous correspondences with the company to find the correct contact information. If you were new to the company, you might consider asking your colleagues or checking the company’s website, social pages, or other related platforms for such information.
Body of the letter
In this section, you should be as clear and concise as possible when providing details about your complaints. The appeal letter should not be a narrative – it is a letter that requests something from someone else, so it should clearly outline what information or action you hope to gain from the recipient reading your letter.
The body of the letter should comprise:
Why you want reconsideration: Explain precisely why you want the decision to be reconsidered and why you think it was unfair. You mustn’t undermine the company process, no matter how simple or inconvenient it may have seemed to you. It is also essential that you only address your personal experience and leave out any information that pertains to anyone else.
State facts: This section should provide a clear and concise summary of how events transpired, including all relevant dates and times. It is essential to be specific so that your letter is very detailed and leaves no room for interpretation or confusion. Also, ensure that there are no factual errors as this may weaken your case.
The reason they passed on your request: This is where you highlight the discrepancy between what you were looking for initially and how the final decision differed. Explain why you think the decision was unfair and highlight examples of similar cases where someone else in a similar condition was treated differently from how you were treated. Again, it would help to not complain about or blame anyone else for the decision or lack of action.
Support your request: This part of the appeal letter should provide all evidence to support your case. This can be done by listing dates and names/titles or even an overlooked solution during the original decision-making process. Give specific examples of any negative impact the decision has had on your life or career, then reiterate what action or information would make your life easier.
State what you would like to happen: This is where you ask for what you want from the recipient, whether it’s a job or a re-evaluation of your case. So be sure that your request is specific and focused on the desired outcome; avoid making demands but instead go for a professional, courteous approach. Acknowledge that you understand that their decision is final and explain why you believe that it is unfair. State that you are hoping for a different outcome and provide all the information necessary for reconsideration.
Conclusion
In this section, summarize what you have asked for and why. Let the recipient know that you expect a reply, if necessary, and specifically ask them to either reconsider or let you know why your request cannot be met. Conclude the letter in a professional business tone and express your gratitude to the recipient for taking the time to review your appeal. You can also encourage the potential employer/hiring manager to contact you if they need further information about your case. Add your signature and print your name after your conclusion.
Sample Letter of Appeal for Reconsideration
Paul Stevens
87 St. Street
Atlanta, CA 9783
872-989-2982
[email protected]
November 10th, 2021
Margaret Brown
Manager
ABC ltd.
9322 Valley Rd.
New York, NY 8286
Dear Ms. Brown,
I want to appeal the decision regarding my recent termination from ABC ltd. I believe that the process used was not fair and that my termination was not justified.
I would like the process to be re-evaluated so that my case can be reconsidered.
I began working for ABC ltd. in December 2015. My role was finance director and, up until my termination, I had never received any warnings or disciplinary action of any kind. However, on September 30th, 2021, I received notice that my employment was terminated due to the need for cutbacks. I was shocked to hear this decision given that, in May 2021, during a performance review, I had received “meets expectations” in every category.
Looking at previous cases of other employees being terminated around the same time frame as me, you will notice that their service time is significantly less than mine. For example, John Doe was employed for only one year and had the same level of responsibility as me. Furthermore, Jane Roe had been employed for six months before she was let go – even though her job did not require the same amount of experience or knowledge that mine did.
I hope that you will reconsider the unfair judgment against me and reinstate my job. Again, I believe that I have been mistreated and ask for a re-evaluation of my case.
As stated in the employee manual, all employment is “at will.” This means that either party can end our employment relationship at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice. However, this does not mean that the decision to terminate my employment was unfortunate. On the contrary, I truly enjoyed working at ABC ltd. and would like to continue my job if possible.
Sincerely,
Paul Stevens
Letter of Appeal for Reconsideration Template
[Your name]
Your address]
[Your phone number]
[Your email address]
Date]
[Employer name]
[Employer title]
[Employer company]
[Employer address]
Dear _________________ [recipient’s name],
I am appealing the decision to terminate my employment, which I received on ___________ [date]. Unfortunately, I believe that this process was not conducted fairly. I would like this process to be re-evaluated so that my case can be reconsidered. I began working for _____________ [company name] in __________________ [month year], and up until my termination, I had never received any warnings or disciplinary action of any kind from _________________ [company name].
In ______ [month year], I was given notice of my termination due to the need for cutbacks. I was shocked to hear this decision, given that in _________________ [month year], during a performance review, I had received “meets expectations” on every category.
I recognize that the decision to terminate my employment was not an easy one, and I truly enjoyed working for _____________ [company name]. However, I believe that the process used to make this decision has been unfair and ask that you reconsider your judgment against me. I have attached my work history report for your reference.
Thank you for considering my appeal. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Contact Information]
Pre-Made Templates
In order to save your time from all this writing hassle, we have provided you with some free customizable templates that can be edited as per need. So download:
Some Quick Tips
Here are some tips to consider when writing and sending a letter of appeal for reconsideration to increase your likelihood of getting a timely response:
- Use a professional tone: Using a professional tone in your letter is very important. Remember that the person you are writing to will make their decision based on your letter; therefore, it should be professional enough that they would want to help.
- Keep it brief: Do not attempt to explain everything leading up to the termination in the letter. Instead, keep it short, state why you believe your termination was unfair, and ask for reconsideration.
- See company’s policy: Look at any handbook or employee manual you signed when initially accepting employment with this company, if applicable. See what their policy is concerning appeals or grievances and follow this policy.
- Admit mistake: Be sure to apologize for any wrongdoings you feel contributed to the termination, if applicable. If you do not admit guilt, it will make it harder to prove your case.
- Proofread: Proofread the letter before sending it to ensure there are no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Mistakes can decrease your chances of getting a response.
- Proper format: Be sure to make your letter presentable by using the proper business letter formatting and layout. Put your name, current contact information, and date at the top of the letter. Then, put the company’s name and address, as well as your employer’s title, name, and signature, across from it. Then, make a new paragraph for each item you put in your letter. Having your letter in proper formatting will increase its effectiveness.
Conclusion
When you believe that you have been wrongly terminated, unfairly warned, laid off, demoted, fired, or not rehired, it is crucial to follow the proper channels for getting your concerns heard and investigated. For example, suppose you believe that the process used to make the decision was unfair. In that case, sending a letter of appeal for reconsideration is an effective method for getting this corrected and having your case reconsidered by the person who made the initial decision. By doing so, you can potentially restore your employment status or receive a different result.
