Dismissal and re-engagement proposal letter template
Our Dismissal and Re-Engagement Proposal Letter Template assists in proposing changes while complying with UK employment regulations.
If you wish to impose a variation of a contract after consultation has not resulted in an agreement, issue this model letter template to propose dismissing the employee and re-engaging them on the new terms.
- 2 pages / 311 words.
- Last updated 19/12/2024.
- Designed for United Kingdom use.
- Suitable for use in other territories; check local laws first.
- Instantly download as Word / PDF / plain text, or send by email.
- Includes 12 months’ access, with all updates to this page provided free of charge and notified to you.
Dismissal and re-engagement proposal letter
[Sender name]
[Sender address]
[date]
[Recipient name]
[Recipient address]
Dear [Recipient first name],
Proposed dismissal and re-engagement
You will be aware that [Company] proposed a change to your terms and conditions of employment following the [group/department/team] meeting on [date] and the individual meeting with you on [date].
The proposed variation was [describe the proposed variation, such as a reduction in pay, new working hours, or an employee relocation to a different workplace].
The explanation we presented for the change was [explain arguments for the suggested modification].
Unfortunately, we were unable to reach an agreement with you regarding the variation by [date of deadline set to achieve agreement], and we will now
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When an employer needs to make contractual modifications to an employee's terms and conditions, they should always do so after consulting and agreeing with the employee(s).
If consultation ends with no agreement, employers might occasionally be justified in unilaterally modifying workers' terms and conditions by terminating their contracts and re-hiring them on new terms and conditions under extreme situations, when there are legitimate and compelling business demands and agreement cannot be achieved.
'Fire and rehire' procedures should be used only as a last resort if revisions to employment contracts are critical and voluntary agreement is not available.
It is usually delivered to the Employee by the Employer / HR.
It should be actioned after consultation, where no agreement can be reached.
Compliance
Compliance
This Dismissal and re-engagement proposal letter template incorporates relevant UK laws and HR standards, including those listed below:
There is no specific UK employment legislation that directly addresses "fire and rehire." Instead, the legality of such practices is subject to existing employment law principles, which include:
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Employment Rights Act 1996: Provides employees with protection against unfair dismissal, including situations where a dismissal is not deemed fair due to a lack of substantive reason or unfair procedure.
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Equality Act 2010: Ensures that employees are not unfairly treated or dismissed due to protected characteristics, such as age, gender, disability, or ethnicity.
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Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE): If dismissals are part of a larger business reorganisation, TUPE regulations may apply, which dictate the rights of employees in the event of a transfer of a business or undertaking.
Flowchart
Flowchart
Check which resources should be implemeted before and/or after the Dismissal and re-engagement proposal letter template, to understand the workflow.
Consultation meeting on proposed contract variation script
Use this if you require a robust and practical Consultation meeting on proposed contract variation script.
Dismissal and re-engagement letter
If discussions further to consultation have not resulted in an agreement, issue this model letter template to terminate the employee and offer re-engagement on the new terms.
Timings
Timings
Follow these best practice actions to get the most from the Dismissal and re-engagement proposal letter template, guiding you before, during, and after implementation:
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| Step | Description | Responsibility | Timing |
| 1 | Determine the need for contractual changes and explore alternatives through consultation. | HR/Management | After a reasonable consultation period concludes (at least 1 week) |
| 2 | If through consultation an agreement to change terms is not able to be reached, prepare a Dismissal and Re-Engagement Proposal Letter outlining the new terms and reasons for changes. | HR/Management | Before sending |
| 3 | Schedule a meeting with the employee to discuss the proposal and address concerns. | HR/Management | After preparing letter |
| 4 | Share the letter during the meeting, explaining that dismissal and re-engagement are proposed due to the inability to agree on changes. | HR/Management | During meeting |
| 5 | Allow the employee time to consider the proposal and provide feedback. | Employee | After meeting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I use this template in my small business?
Yes. The Dismissal and re-engagement proposal letter template is designed to be flexible and suitable for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses and charities. It follows UK employment law best practice, so even if you don't have an in-house HR team, you can confidently apply it.
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Is this template compliant with 2025 UK employment law?
Absolutely. All of our templates are drafted with the latest ACAS guidance and UK employment legislation in mind. We review and update them regularly, so you can be confident they remain compliant.
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Can I customise it for my organisation?
Yes, we highlight the areas 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.
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Do I get instant access?
Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable Word or Excel format so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.
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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 this template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.
