What elements are necessary when writing a letter of layoff of employment?

Technically, all a layoff letter needs to include is a statement of termination from employer to employee. However, to reduce the risk of legal action or public company disparagement by disgruntled employees, HR departments should include the reason for the layoff and information about the disposition of benefits.

The HR Specialist details several other suggested inclusions, particularly the criteria used to choose which workers at the company were terminated. Company policy and collective bargaining rules should be discussed in detail in the layoff document to ensure that the layoff does not appear discriminatory or illegal. Many HR websites urge firing departments to use a respectful and empathetic tone, regardless of the actual content of the layoff letter.