Career break agreement letter template
Our Career Break Agreement Letter template streamlines the process, making it easy to establish the terms and conditions for a successful career break.
10 mins
What is a Career break agreement letter?
A career break is a mutually agreed period of leave, typically lasting between six months and two years, during which an employee takes time off from work to explore personal interests or achieve specific goals. During this break, the employee is not required to perform work for the employer and does not receive pay or benefits. Career breaks can offer employees opportunities for self-development, education, travel, family care, and stress relief, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction upon their return to work. Some employers may offer career breaks as part of their human resource policies to support employees' work-life balance and personal growth.
As soon as possible after a decision is made
The Employer (you) to the Employee
Great Britain & NI (United Kingdom), Worldwide
What steps should I take to ensure the effective, compliant execution of this letter?
| Step | Description | Responsibility | Timing |
| 1 | Employee submits a Career Break Request | Employee | N/A |
| 2 | Employer acknowledges receipt of the request | Employer | Within 1-2 days |
| 3 | Employer reviews the request and company policy | Employer | 1-2 weeks |
| 4 | Meeting with the employee to discuss the request. Career break agreement drafted and sent to employee | Employer & Employee | Within 2-3 weeks |
| 5 | Employee reviews and signs the career break agreemen | Employer | Within 4 weeks |
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What legislation or best practices underpin this template / should I be aware of?
When issuing a career break agreement letter in the UK, there are a few key employment laws that should be considered:
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Employment Contracts: The employment contract should be reviewed to ensure that it allows for career breaks and that any conditions for taking a career break are met. The employer must ensure that the employee is made aware of the conditions for taking a career break and that the terms of the career break agreement are clearly outlined in writing.
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Notice Periods: Employers should give the employee sufficient notice of the start and end dates of the career break, and any other relevant information, such as how to return to work.
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Pay and Benefits: The letter should specify whether the employee will be paid during the career break and whether any benefits, such as pension contributions, will continue.
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Right to Return: The employee's right to return to their previous job or an equivalent job after the career break should be outlined in the letter. The letter should also specify any conditions that the employee must meet in order to be able to return to work, such as giving sufficient notice of their return.
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Discrimination Law: Employers must ensure that the decision to allow an employee to take a career break is not discriminatory in any way. This means that the decision must not be based on the employee's race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.
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Documentation: Employers should keep detailed records of the career break agreement, including any conditions for taking the career break, the start and end dates of the career break, and any pay and benefits arrangements. This documentation may be useful in the event of any disputes or issues that arise during or after the career break.
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Refer to your local employment legislation / labor laws to support the execution of the template. Review the wording for local accuracy.
Career break agreement [Delete this line]
[Company name]
[Sender address]
[date]
[Recipient name]
[Recipient address]
Dear [Recipient first name],
We are writing to confirm the details of your career break agreement. We are pleased to grant you a career break from your employment with [Company Name] for a period of [Start Date] to [End Date]. During this period, you will not be required to perform any work for the company, and you will not receive any pay or benefits.
Please note that your employment with the company will be suspended during the career break period, and you will not accrue any service during this time. However, you will be entitled to return to your role on a full-time basis at the end of the career break, subject to the availability of the position.
To confirm your agreement to the career break, please sign and return a copy of this letter to us by [Date]. If you do not return the signed letter by this date, we will assume that you no longer wish to take the career break, and your employment will continue as normal.
We hope that the career break provides you with the time and space you need to achieve your personal and professional goals. If you have any questions or concerns about the career break, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours [faithfully | sincerely],
[Sender name]
[Sender job title]
[Sender telephone]
[Sender email]
What communication / process sequence is this part of?
Career break request letter template
Our Career Break Request Letter template simplifies the process for employees seeking a career break, making it easier to communicate their request and reasons effectively.
Why buy our Career break agreement letter template?
- It's easily editable and implementable, saving you time and money
- It's designed by CIPD accedited Chartered HR practitioners with operational experience in this area
- You will maintain compliance with ACAS guidelines, legislation, and industry best practices
- Email notifications for any updates made to this template or its accompanying materials
- 12 months of unrestricted access without any additional costs (any update in that period is free to you)
- A 25% discount on all library, toolkit, and template purchases/renewals
