Fillable Form Time Off Request

What is a Time-Off Request Form?

A Time-Off Request form allows an employee to inform formally an employer of his or her request to schedule an absence from work for valid reasons, including vacation, sickness, bereavement, education, and other reasons that would cause an employee to miss a day at work. It is used to document not only the request of an employee for a day off at work but also the response of the management.

Every company has policies on time off. In general, paid time off is earned by employees over the course of a year and the amount accrued may increase with each year of employment, depending on the set conditions of a company. Paid time off may be used at the discretion of an employee, given that he or she has provided proper and early notice so the company can suitably plan out and reassign tasks to accommodate all workloads. The direct supervisor of the employee who is requesting a time off is the one in charge of and accountable for approving the request and keeping a record for future reference, aside from the Human Resource Department of the company.

To request time off, an employee should complete and submit a time-off request form. Providing a time-off request does not guarantee time off; the permission of an immediate supervisor should be provided first.

If you are planning to take time off work, it is crucial to let your immediate supervisor know as soon as possible to prepare for your absence. Before making a formal request, also consider several factors that might affect its approval or rejection, including critical work periods. It also helps to inform co-workers for them to be able to prepare for coverage of any shifts and being short-handed for a period.

How to fill out a Time-Off Request Form?

A time-off request form needs to have important details of the scheduled absence from work, including dates and the reason for the leave. While there is no standard format for the time-off request form, it must be simple and easy to understand to avoid confusion on the side of the approver.

Using PDFRun’s time-off request form, you can write a leave request document in minutes. You may use this document if your employer does not have a pre-existing form. If you work in Human Resources that need to provide employees with a time-off request form template, this form is also useful. Follow the guide below to fill out the form accurately.

Provide the date when the form was filled out.

The body of the document contains important dates, such as the start and end date of time off and the reason for the scheduled absence.

Provide your name and signature and the date you signed the form for validation.

The Employer Decision section is where your immediate supervisor informs you if your request for time off is approved or declined. Your immediate supervisor must provide his name and signature and the date he or she signed the form for validation.

Frequently Asked Questions About a Time-Off Request Form

How do I create a time-off request?

To create a time-off request, you need to specify important details of your leave request such as your employee information, the leave type to use, the reason for your time-off request, and the applicable dates. You can create your own time-off request document or fill out a request form.

How do you politely ask for time off?

You have to be polite when asking for time off work, considering the effects of your leave on the productivity of your team and the company. You can politely ask for time off by emailing or giving a completed time-off request form to your boss.

If you are creating your own time-off requests there are some things you should consider.

Use a formal tone. Your first sentence should be "I would like to request some time off." Use the word "request" instead of "demand," as it comes across as more professional. You can also use phrases such as "if you would allow me " and "I hope you will consider my request."

Follow with a brief explanation of why you need the time off. If it is for personal reasons, mention that you would like to spend time with your family or yourself. You can also include details such as how much time you want off and when you plan on returning to work if it helps.

If you are asking for time off for a project or conference, mention that your attendance is necessary to perform well in your role. If it is for school, say that the class will improve your job performance and help you achieve future career goals.

End by restating that you hope your boss will approve of the leave and that you appreciate his or her consideration. If you are asking for time off for a project or conference, say that you hope to see him or her at the event and thank him or her again for considering your leave. Signing the request is optional but it does show respect for your boss.

What is a time-off request?

A time-off request is a formal document that both requests and grants time off from one's job. It is used by employees to make their case to employers for why they should be allowed time off from work, which can include vacation, sick time, bereavement leave, or any other kind of absence.

Employers use time-off requests to approve, deny or postpone an employee's request for days they wish to be absent. A time-off request can be considered official when it is written on company letterhead, with the date the leave will begin and end listed in the body of the document. If it is not written on company letterhead, a request letter can still be considered an official document if it includes the information name of the employee making the request, the dates on which the employee wishes to take time off from work, and the reasons why he or she is requesting time off from work. The employer may also request other information the company feels is pertinent to the request.

A time-off request must be written for proper documentation. Moreover, such a request must be submitted to an individual's immediate supervisor or human resources department, or both. It can also be submitted to an individual's personnel department if there is one.

The immediate supervisor reviews the time-off request and then sends it to a human resources representative or some other designated individual, such as a manager who works in the department where the employee requesting time off from work is employed. The human resources representative reviews the time-off request makes a decision about whether or not to approve it and then returns the request to the employee's immediate supervisor. The immediate supervisor either grants or denies the time off from work. If there is room for negotiation during this stage of the process, the supervisor discusses with the employee who submitted the time-off request what changes, if any, can or should be made.

The time-off request is then either granted — the employee will take the time off from work — or denied — the employee will not take this time off from work. If it is denied, the reasons for the denial are also documented in the file. If the request is approved, a written confirmation is given to the employee and a copy of it is also retained in his or her personnel file.

What is a good reason to request a day off?

The reasons to request a day off work vary. However, while any reason may be valid, there are some unacceptable reasons. Some of the good reasons to request a day off work are medical conditions, family emergencies, religious obligations, and personal tragedies. Some of the unacceptable reasons are having a hangover, sleeping in after staying up late partying, or using an unexcused absence as vacation time.

How far in advance should you request PTO?

You should request paid time off as early as possible. Not only will this give your employer plenty of time to find someone to handle your work while you are away, but it may also prevent them from even assigning you the shift in the first place. If your employer does not approve your request for paid time off, ask if you can use either vacation days or unpaid time off instead. It's better to use these if both of you can agree it's appropriate. If no option works and you absolutely need to miss a shift or be scheduled for one that conflicts with another commitment, like school, talk to your employer about finding someone else to cover for you until they find a more permanent solution such as hiring another person.

If an event you need to attend is dependent on your attendance, like job training or a class that leads to certification, then it might be worth taking the time off anyway, even if it means unpaid leave.

How do I request a PTO day?

To request paid time off day, you must submit a time-off request document to your immediate supervisor and the person in charge of the department. The time off can be approved or denied by your supervisor, or it can be forwarded to the Human Resources Department for approval. If approval is granted, written documentation will be provided as required by federal law.

Can an employer deny time off requests?

Yes, your employer can deny your time-off request if your reason for requesting time off is not acceptable. Employers cannot deny time off based on a protected basis such as race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information.

Instead, employers can deny time-off requests only for nondiscriminatory reasons such as lack of work, inadequate advance notice, or general scheduling needs.

Can PTO be denied after approval?

An already approved leave can still be denied by your boss or employer for reasons that they may deem urgent and important. If you believe that the denial is unfair, you have the right to file a complaint.

Can you get fired for not answering your phone on your day off?

You should not be fired for not answering your phone on your day off. When you are on leave, you have the right to not answer your phone.

Can you be fired for taking a vacation?

No. You cannot be fired for taking a vacation unless your employment contract prohibits it.

If your employment contract specifically states that you cannot take a vacation or personal days, then yes, it's cause for termination. But if there is no such clause and you've been with the company a long enough time to accrue paid time off (PTO), then your employer can't forbid you from taking approved vacation time. However, you could get into trouble if you don't give adequate notice before taking a vacation. For instance, if your employer gives two weeks' notice for time off and you only tell them one week in advance; or if you give less than a week's notice and the company has made it clear that they need staff to be there at all times.

Can an employer deny leave without pay?

An employer can deny leave without pay to its employee, but only in the case of certain reasons such as misconduct or serious and willful violation of rules.

The employer must specify what the misconduct is, the reason why leave was refused, and provide proof to support these allegations. Another example would be an employee who has been suspended for disciplinary reasons and is consequently not allowed to go back to work, even if he or she wants to, however, the employer will still have to pay the salary. Another case where leave can be denied without pay is when an employee does not submit a sufficient medical certificate. Moreover, sick leave can be denied without pay if an employee is too careless about his or her health and does not submit a sufficient medical certificate when needed.

But employers cannot deny leave without pay for certain reasons such as personal needs or demands. So in the event of pregnancy, an employer cannot deny an employee leave without pay since it might be needed because of the pregnancy. Employers are also not allowed to discriminate against employees who need time off for medical reasons whether they are related to pregnancy or not.

However, if the employer can provide proof that granting leave will cause disruption to his or her business operations, then sick leave can be denied without pay. Before denying leave without pay, the employer must be sure of his or her decision and provide reasons for it. He or she can also provide an alternative such as reducing the number of days off instead.

How do you write a letter asking for time off work?

You can write a letter asking for time off work. Include the following information in your letter:

• Your personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number at work and at home
• The date you want to take off
• Why you need the time off — Be specific so they know what to expect.
• How long you will be absent
• A statement that the time off will not affect your attendance record, if applicable
• Whether you want the time counted as sick days or vacation days
• Your signature
• Other relevant information, if it applies to your particular case

It's a good idea to ask for "personal time" off rather than "sick time." Personal time does not have to be explained or justified, so you can take the days whenever you need them, without having to come up with an excuse involving being sick or taking care of someone else.

Your letter should be short and polite. Keep in mind that your employer may decide to tell other people within the company about your absence, so you should avoid giving details if possible. If it's relevant, include a statement that this time will not affect your attendance record. To show that you have thought carefully about how your absence will affect your employer, include a statement that you understand the problems it might cause.

How do you ask for time off approval?

You can ask for the approval of your time off request by sending a letter to your manager. The date on which the request is received by the HR Department will be considered as official approval or rejection of your time-off request.

Your company's policy on time off might require you to get prior approval for any time that you would like to take off work, not just in cases of emergency. In these cases, you should submit a written request to your manager at least five business days before the date on which you'd like to take time off. This type of policy is generally put into place for situations that may require extra preparation or planning from management staff before approving leave, such as taking time off during peak seasons or during large projects.

If your manager agrees to your time off request, you should receive an approval letter that includes the date on which the time off is approved. Keep this letter in case anyone asks why you're absent from work on that day. If your manager denies your time-off request by not replying or by sending a rejection letter that does not give a reason for the denial, then you have the right to file a complaint with your company's Human Resources Department.

When asking for time off from work, it is important to remember that your employer might deny your request if there are no business reasons why one of their employees needs time off from work. If this happens, make sure to follow your company's policy on how they handle requests for time off that are denied. Your company might have a different time-off policy that applies regardless of the reason you want to take time off from work. These types of policies typically do not require approval and instead allow employees to take individual days off as they need them. If this is your company's policy, then you should be able to take the days off that you're requesting without asking for prior approval. If taking time off from work on those days would cause too much disruption in a department or make it difficult for other employees to meet deadlines, however, your employer might deny the time-off request.

What do you put in a time off request?

The request must contain all the necessary explanations in order to ensure that your request can be processed correctly and in due time by your employer. Some of the information that your request should contain are the following:

• The reason for your absence from work.
• Dates when you intend to take your leave. This is very important and you must be precise about it because it will influence the date on which you will stop receiving your salary and entitlement to employment benefits that come with working.
• Expected date of return to work. If you know this date in advance, you can provide it no matter how far ahead it is.
• How long you will take leave from work.

There are some cases when you are entitled to take a time off work without having to provide your employers any explanations or proof about why you need to be absent from work.

Workers are entitled to take the following types of leave without having to provide any explanations or proof regarding why they need time off work:

• Maternity leave
• Paternity leave
• Adoption leave
• Parental leave
• Time off for child-related emergency
• Time off due to a dependant's illness, injury, or emergency

Time off for dependants who need to attend certain official appointments. If you are a public servant, this applies to your time off for official activities.

What is the purpose of a time-off request?

The purpose of a time off from work request is to ask your employer for some time off. Moreover, requesting time off work ensures that employees are not forced to choose between their own personal well-being and their job. By requesting a time-off request, a worker may be able to reduce a significant amount of stress, prevent burnout and increase their mental health.

When should you request time off?

You should send your time-off request and notify your boss or employer about your request as soon as possible. It is an important step in the process, but not a required one. In most cases, you can either fill out a time-off request form or a written letter of notification. Your boss may have different rules on how he wants to be notified about your absence from work, so make sure to find out what is appropriate for your company.

It is not recommended to wait until the last minute when asking for time off. If it seems like you will need more than 2 weeks' notice, then start raising this subject with your employer or boss after a month of planning. If you do so, they will have more time to find someone to cover your work.

To make this process easier and stress-free, make sure to ask for time off during a good period. For example, if you know that your work will be slower in the summer season or any other off-peak period when you usually don't need much help from your co-workers, then it is an ideal time to raise this subject. If not, then it is a good idea to start this process a few months in advance. This way your employer will have more time to find someone else for the job and you won't rush at the last minute.

Why should you request time off?

Requesting time off work is important instead of just absenting and notifying when you get back to work. Not requesting time off work is not an option and may lead to undesirable consequences. Your manager should know about your absence in advance to ensure he or she can find someone to cover for you. Moreover, you should adhere to your company's policy on requesting leaves.

Each company has its own policies and procedures regarding leaves and time-off requests. You should check your company's policy about requesting leaves, especially the kind of leave you want to take — sick leave, vacation leave. Your manager will then process the time off with Human Resources.

Make sure you are requesting a specific date that your manager can approve. If you want to be on leave while your company is still waiting on approval, it may lead to misunderstanding and a potential conflict between you and your employer.

How do you handle time-off requests?

As an employer or manager, you should handle time-off requests properly. It's important to remember that the law protects employees' rights to take time off. Your company policies and procedures for handling time-off requests should comply with federal, state, and local laws; you'll be liable if they don't. So pay attention to what your state and local governments say about the issue. Plus, appropriate treatment of time-off requests can go a long way toward making employees happy and productive. Here are the basics on how to handle time-off requests properly:

• Establish a procedure for submitting time-off requests.
• Give employees advance notice of schedule changes that affect them, including those due to time off.
• Don't discriminate against workers who want time off.
• Pay attention to employees' personal lives, but make sure you're consistent.
• Be upfront and transparent about your policies. Put your policy in writing so you can avoid misunderstandings.
• Make sure your time-off policies are consistent with state laws