Redundancy Letter by Acas
Updated 17 October 2025
This template is a letter for employers to inform an employee that their position is at risk of redundancy. It outlines the next steps, including the consultation process, its purpose, and who will be consulted. The letter emphasizes that no final decisions will be made until the consultation has concluded.
Letter Informing an Employee They are at Risk of Redundancy
An employer can adapt this template to inform an employee they are at risk of redundancy.
Find out more about following a fair redundancy process.
Instructions or options to fill in this template are in [square brackets].
[Date]
Dear [insert name of employee],
I write following the meeting held [earlier today / on [date]]. As we discussed, the organisation may need to make redundancies.
The organisation is considering making [enter estimated figure] employees within the [specify team / department / section / location] redundant because [explain how the reason for potential redundancies impacts on that particular team, department, section or location]. Unfortunately, your post is one of those at risk of redundancy.
What happens next?
The organisation will now start the consultation process. The purpose of consultation is to:
discuss and explore ways of avoiding or reducing the number of redundancies and reach agreement if possible
give you the opportunity to make suggestions and raise any questions you may have
consider possible suitable alternative employment within the organisation
seek to agree criteria for selecting employees if redundancies are necessary [or explain the selection process agreed with the [relevant trade union / employee representative body]]
identify your needs during the process and provide you with any necessary support or assistance
I want to make it clear that no decisions have been taken yet and that no decision on this will be made until the consultation has concluded.
Who will we consult with?
[Use option A if you will collectively consult with a recognised trade union or members of an existing employee forum.
Use option B if you will elect employee representatives from the workforce to collectively consult with.
Use option C if you have no recognised trade union or employee representative body and will individually consult with staff at risk of redundancy. You can only use this option if you are proposing to either:
dismiss as redundant less than 20 people within a 90-day period
dismiss as redundant 20 or more employees within a 90-day period, and you offered the opportunity to elect employee representatives but nobody put themselves forward
Find out more about how to follow the right process when managing redundancies.]
[Option A]
[The organisation will be consulting with [name of union / representative body] about ways of avoiding or reducing the need for redundancies and about the criteria on which any selection for redundancy would be based. You will also be given an opportunity to be consulted directly about how the process affects you.]
[Option B]
[The organisation will be arranging for the election of representatives who will be consulted on ways of avoiding or reducing the need for redundancies and about the criteria on which any selection for redundancy would be based. We will announce details of this process and how you can participate soon. You will also be given an opportunity to be consulted directly about how the process affects you.]
[Option C]
[The organisation will consult with you on an individual basis. We will be writing to you soon to invite you to a meeting to discuss ways of avoiding or reducing the need for redundancies and about the criteria on which any selection for redundancy would be based. All suggestions will be considered.]
How long will the consultation last?
[Option A]
[The consultation will last for a minimum period of [30 / 45] days because the organisation is proposing to make [20 or more / 100 or more] employees redundant over a period of 90 days or less.]
[Option B]
[There is no set period for how long the consultation will last, because it will depend upon the issues that are raised, but we expect it to last for at least [enter number] weeks.]
We will keep you informed and involved throughout the process. In the [next few days / coming weeks], we will write to invite you to an individual consultation meeting to discuss the issues outlined in this letter, and any other concerns that you may have.
We appreciate that this is likely to be an upsetting and difficult time for everyone. Please feel free to [talk to your manager or contact me / enter name of person] if you have any queries or would like to discuss any aspect of the process further.
Yours sincerely
[name of employer]
About this template
What is this template?
Redundancy Letter by Acas is a free, ready-to-use Employment Contracts template you can open, customize, and download on GitLaw. It gives you a professionally structured starting point, so you never have to draft from a blank page. The wording is plain and modern, organized into clear sections that are easy to read, edit, and adapt to your own situation before you share or sign it.
When should you use it?
Reach for this Employment Contracts template whenever you need a reliable agreement quickly and want to be sure the essentials are covered. It suits individuals, freelancers, startups, and established businesses alike. Instead of paying for a document drafted from scratch, you can start here, tailor the details to your arrangement, and have a polished draft ready in minutes. Always review the final wording against the laws that apply where you live or do business.
What's typically included?
A well-drafted Employment Contracts usually sets out the parties involved, the scope of the agreement, and each side's rights and responsibilities. Expect sections covering key terms and definitions, how long the agreement lasts, how it can be ended, and what happens if something goes wrong. This template brings those building blocks together in a sensible order, so you can focus on the specifics rather than worrying about what to include. Open it to read the full document, then sign up to edit, negotiate, and e-sign it directly in GitLaw.