Verbal (informal) warning letter template

£9.99

UK-specific • Editable • Instant download • 12 months' updates

Our Verbal Warning Letter Template facilitates prompt informal resolution of performance issues, ensuring clear communication and promoting improvement.

This document allows the employer confirm a verbal warning, and to specify the exact misconduct and the improvement timescale to the employee.

An informal verbal warning is often all you need to improve an employee’s conduct or performance.

Verbal (informal) warning letter template
2026 Reviewed
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 1 page • 117 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 01/08/2026
Next review 01/02/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .txt · email

Download .doc

Copy [to paste]

Email
Template

[Sender name]

[Sender address]

[date]

[Recipient name]

[Recipient address]

 

Dear [Recipient first name],

Notice of Verbal Warning

I refer to our informal meeting of [date]. I am writing to confirm the decision taken that you be given a verblal warning under the Company Disciplinary Procedure.

This warning will be placed in your personal

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What is a verbal (informal) warning letter?

Verbal (informal) warning letter template preview

The purpose of a Verbal Warning Letter Template is to document and formalise a verbal or informal warning given to an employee for their performance or conduct issues.

The letter serves as a written record of the verbal warning, outlining the specific concerns and expectations for improvement. It aims to communicate the seriousness of the issue and provide the employee with an opportunity to rectify the problem. The letter also serves as evidence in case further disciplinary actions are necessary.

It promotes clear communication between the employer and employee, fostering a fair and transparent disciplinary process.

The wider HR process

Related HR resources and workflow

Explore the HR resources that may be relevant before and / or after using the Verbal (informal) warning letter, helping you understand the wider process, maintain appropriate documentation and follow a consistent approach.

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Verbal (informal) warning letter
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Implementation guidance

Use these best practice actions, recommended timescales and process stages to understand when and how the Verbal (informal) warning letter should be used, helping ensure each step is handled consistently and appropriately documented.

Step Description Responsibility Timing
1 Identify the performance issue or misconduct incident requiring a verbal warning. HR Ongoing monitoring
2 Collect necessary evidence and information to support the verbal warning. Supervisor As it accumulates
3 Prepare a Verbal Warning Letter outlining the concerns. HR Before meeting
4 Arrange a private meeting with the employee to discuss the lateness issue.  Supervisor When required
5 During the meeting, explain the reason for the verbal warning, discuss the impact, provide guidance for improvement, and provide a copy of the letter. Supervisor 3 working days after incident
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HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

  • Employment Rights Act 1996: Provides guidelines on disciplinary procedures, including the right for employees to be informed verbally of disciplinary action.

  • Equality Act 2010: Ensures fair treatment during the disciplinary process, prohibiting discrimination based on protected characteristics.

  • ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures: Offers best practices for handling disciplinary issues and ensures procedural fairness.

  • Data Protection Act 2018: Ensures that employee data related to disciplinary matters is handled securely and confidentially.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this in my small business?

Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.

Is it compliant with 2026 UK employment law?

Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.

Can I customise it for my organisation?

Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.

Do I get instant access to it?

Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.

What if I need more help, not just this template?

If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Verbal (informal) warning letter template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.

Why should I use this Verbal (informal) warning letter template, and not AI to generate it?

AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Verbal (informal) warning letter template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing disciplinary processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

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Ruth Brock Chief Executive Officer The Hygiene Bank
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