Warning Letter to Employee: Format and 12 Samples

12 ready samples Copy, Word or print Checked 9 Oct 2026

A warning letter is a formal letter from a manager or HR to an employee that records a problem, such as late coming, absence or rude behaviour, and asks them to correct it. This page has 12 samples in three groups: warning letters to employees, show cause letters asking for an explanation, and letters an employee can write to explain a mistake or reply to a warning.

Your own details go into the form above only once, and the samples here pick them up. Write in the employee's name, the dates and what actually happened, then copy, print or download the letter as a Word file.

Letter

1st Warning Letter to Employee for Late Coming

For a manager or HR giving a first written warning to an employee who keeps reaching office late.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: First warning for repeated late coming
Dear Recipient Name,

This letter is a first written warning about your late arrival at work. Our attendance records show that you reached office after the reporting time on number of days days between start date and end date. Your manager spoke to you about this on date of discussion, but there has been no improvement.

Regular late coming affects team meetings and puts extra work on your colleagues. Office timings are part of the terms you accepted when you joined.

You are expected to report on time from tomorrow. If you face a genuine problem, such as a change in your commute, please discuss it with your manager. If the late coming continues, the company may take further action as per its attendance policy.

Please sign a copy of this letter to acknowledge that you have received it.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation
Company Name
Letter

Warning Letter to Employee for Unprofessional Behavior

For HR warning an employee who was rude to a colleague or customer, or used improper language at work.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Warning for unprofessional behaviour
Dear Recipient Name,

On incident date, during the team meeting, you raised your voice at a colleague and used language that was insulting and inappropriate. Two other team members have confirmed what happened, and we have also heard your side of the matter.

Such behaviour goes against the company's code of conduct, which asks every employee to treat colleagues and customers with respect. Disagreements at work must be discussed calmly or taken to your manager.

Through this letter, you are formally warned. We expect you to maintain professional conduct at all times. A copy of this warning will be placed in your personnel file. Any repeat of such behaviour may lead to stricter disciplinary action under company policy.

If you would like support, such as a meeting with HR to resolve the issue with your colleague, please let us know.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Human Resources
Company Name
Letter

Warning Letter for Absence Without Leave

For a manager warning an employee who stayed away from work without applying for leave or informing anyone.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Warning for unauthorised absence
Dear Recipient Name,

You were absent from work from start date to end date without applying for leave or informing your reporting manager. Our attempts to reach you by phone during this period were not successful.

Unplanned absence disrupts work schedules and leaves your team unable to plan. The leave policy requires every employee to apply in advance, or to inform the manager on the same day in case of an emergency.

These days will be treated as leave without pay unless you provide a valid reason with proof within three working days. Please treat this letter as a formal warning. Further unauthorised absence may result in strict action as per company rules.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation
Company Name

Warning Letter Format

A warning letter format is the same as a formal office letter, but every line must be factual. Use this order.

PartWhat to write
ToEmployee's name, designation and department.
DateThe date the letter is issued.
SubjectShort and clear: "First warning for late coming", "Show cause notice".
Salutation"Dear" with the employee's name.
Body: factsWhat happened, with dates and numbers. Mention earlier warnings, if any.
Body: rule brokenThe policy or code of conduct the act goes against.
Body: what nextWhat the employee must do, by when, and what may follow if there is no change.
Closing and signature"Yours sincerely", name and designation of the manager or HR officer.

Warning letter, show cause letter and explanation letter

  • Explanation letter: asks for the employee's side before any decision. It is not a punishment.
  • Show cause letter: asks the employee to explain why action should not be taken, within a fixed time.
  • Warning letter: records the problem after the facts are clear and asks for improvement.

If the problem continues after a final warning, a company may issue a termination letter, following its own rules and the employment contract. An employee who wants to say sorry without a formal reply can use an apology letter.

Letter

Warning Letter for Poor Performance

For a manager warning an employee whose work has stayed below target despite feedback, with a clear improvement plan.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Warning regarding work performance
Dear Recipient Name,

Over the last number of months months, your work has not met the standards expected in your role. You completed number of the number assigned tasks on time, and several reports had errors that had to be corrected by others. We discussed this in your review meetings on first review date and second review date.

To help you improve, we are setting the following goals for the next 60 days: submit all reports by the agreed deadline, check every report against the checklist before sending, and meet your manager every Friday to review progress.

The company will support you with training where needed. If there is no clear improvement by the end of this period, further action may be taken as per company policy.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation
Company Name
Letter

Final Warning Letter to Employee

For HR giving a last warning after earlier verbal and written warnings did not change the behaviour.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Final warning
Dear Recipient Name,

You received a verbal warning on verbal warning date and a written warning on written warning date for reason. Despite these, the same issue was repeated on incident date.

This is your final warning. The management has reviewed your record and has decided to give you one more chance to correct your conduct. We have taken into account your years of service while making this decision.

Any further instance of this kind, or any other serious breach of company rules, may lead to termination of your employment as per your appointment terms and company policy, without further warning.

Please acknowledge receipt by signing the attached copy and returning it to HR by reply date.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Human Resources
Company Name
Letter

Show Cause Letter for Misconduct

For a manager asking an employee to explain in writing why disciplinary action should not be taken after a serious incident.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Show cause notice
Dear Recipient Name,

It has come to the notice of the management that on incident date you describe the incident briefly. If true, this is a breach of the company's code of conduct.

You are hereby asked to show cause, in writing, why disciplinary action should not be taken against you for this conduct. Your written explanation must reach the undersigned within number of days days from the date of this letter.

If no reply is received by then, the management will assume you have nothing to say in your defence and will decide the matter on the basis of the facts available. You may attach any document or statement that supports your explanation.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation
Company Name
Letter

Explanation Letter Format (Asking an Employee to Explain)

For a manager asking for an explanation about a smaller lapse, such as a missed deadline or a billing error, before deciding any action.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation, Department
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Request for explanation
Dear Recipient Name,

The client invoice sent on invoice date carried the wrong amount, and the client has raised a complaint with our accounts team. As you prepared and sent this invoice, we would like to understand what went wrong.

Please give a written explanation by reply date covering how the error happened, whether any other invoices may be affected, and what steps you suggest to prevent it in future.

This letter is not a warning. It is part of our process to find the cause before we close the client's complaint.

Regards,
Your Name
Designation
Company Name
Letter

Explanation Letter for Mistake at Work

For an employee explaining a mistake to the manager, accepting responsibility and saying how it has been fixed.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Explanation for error in client invoice
Dear Recipient Name,

This is with reference to your letter dated letter date about the wrong amount in the invoice sent to Organisation Name. I accept that the mistake was mine.

While preparing the invoice, I used the old rate sheet saved on my system instead of the revised one shared last month. I did not cross-check the rates before sending it, which I should have done.

I have already sent a corrected invoice to the client with a note of apology, and the accounts team has confirmed it. I have also checked all invoices I made this month, and no other invoice has this error.

From now on, I will use only the shared rate sheet and get each invoice checked by a teammate before it goes out. I regret the trouble this caused.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Explanation Letter for Late Coming

For an employee asked to explain late arrival who has a genuine reason and wants to request a short-term change.

To
The HR Manager
Company Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Explanation for late arrival
Dear Sir/Madam,

I received your note about my late arrival on several days this month. I would like to explain the reason.

My father has been unwell since start date, and I take him for physiotherapy every morning at a hospital near our house. The session often runs late, which has delayed me by 20 to 30 minutes on those days.

His treatment will continue for about number of weeks more weeks. During this period, I request permission to start my work 30 minutes later and stay back 30 minutes in the evening, so my working hours remain complete. I am sorry I did not inform you earlier.

Yours faithfully,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Reply to Warning Letter by Employee

For an employee who has received a warning letter, accepts it and wants to record a commitment to improve.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Reply to warning letter dated warning letter date
Dear Recipient Name,

I acknowledge receipt of your warning letter dated warning letter date regarding reason. I have read it carefully and understand the concerns raised.

I accept that my conduct did not meet the standards expected of me. There was no intention to cause any harm, but I realise the effect it had on the team and on our work.

I assure you that this will not happen again. I have already one corrective step you have taken, and I would welcome any guidance from my manager on further improvement.

I request that my improved conduct over the coming months also be considered while reviewing my record. Thank you for giving me the chance to correct myself.

Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Reply to Show Cause Notice (Disagreeing with the Charge)

For an employee who believes the show cause notice is based on wrong facts and wants to present their side politely.

To
Recipient Name
Recipient Designation
Company Name
Date: Date
Subject: Reply to show cause notice dated notice date
Dear Sir/Madam,

This is my reply to the show cause notice dated notice date, which states that I left the store unattended on incident date during working hours.

With respect, I wish to state that I did not leave the store unattended. At about time, the store supervisor asked me to collect a delivery from the back gate. Before going, I asked my colleague at the next counter to watch my section. The CCTV footage and the delivery register for that day will confirm this.

I have always followed company rules and have no earlier warning on my record. I request you to review the footage and the register, and to withdraw the notice if my statement is found correct. I am ready to meet the management to explain further.

Yours faithfully,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Enclosure: Statement of colleague, copy of delivery register entry
Email

Warning Email for Breach of Company Policy

For a team lead sending a quick written warning by email, for example after an employee shared office files on a personal device.

To: Recipient Email
Cc: hr@Company Name.com
Subject: Warning for sharing company files on a personal device
Dear Recipient Name,

Our IT team has reported that on incident date you copied client files from the shared drive to your personal pen drive. The data security policy you signed at joining does not allow company data to be stored on personal devices.

Please delete these files from your device today and confirm this to the IT team in writing. Treat this email as a written warning, which will be kept on your file.

If you need to work from home, please ask for access through the approved remote system. Contact me if anything about the policy is unclear.

Regards,
Your Name
Designation
Company Name

How to Write an Explanation Letter

  1. Refer to the letter you received. Mention its date and subject in the first line.
  2. State what happened, briefly. Give facts, times and names of documents, not long stories.
  3. Own your part. If it was your mistake, say so plainly. If you disagree, say so politely and give proof.
  4. Say what you have fixed. Show the steps already taken and how you will prevent it next time.
  5. Reply on time. Send it before the deadline in the letter, and keep a copy with the received date.

See more workplace letters on the business letter page.

Tips for Writing a Warning Letter

  • Talk to the employee first. A written warning should usually follow a verbal one, unless the matter is serious.
  • Write only facts you can prove: dates, attendance records, emails or witness statements.
  • Name the rule or policy that was broken, so the employee knows exactly what is expected.
  • Give a clear time to improve or reply, such as 3 days for a show cause letter or 60 days for performance.
  • Avoid angry words or personal remarks. The letter may be read later by senior management or in a dispute.
  • Ask the employee to sign a copy as proof of receipt, and keep it in the personnel file.
  • Do not threaten dismissal unless your company policy and the employment contract allow it.

Questions people ask

What is a warning letter to an employee?

It is a formal letter from a manager or HR that tells an employee about a problem with their conduct, attendance or work. It records the issue in writing and says what must change. It is usually kept in the employee's file.

What is the difference between a warning letter and a show cause letter?

A show cause letter asks the employee to explain why action should not be taken, before a decision is made. A warning letter is given once the facts are clear, and asks the employee to improve.

How many warning letters are given before termination?

There is no single number that applies everywhere. Many companies follow a verbal warning, a written warning and a final warning, but it depends on company policy, the employment contract and how serious the misconduct is.

How do I write an explanation letter for a mistake?

Refer to the letter or email asking for an explanation, say clearly what went wrong and accept your part. Then explain how you have fixed it and what you will do to stop it happening again. Keep it short and polite.

Should I reply to a warning letter?

It is a good idea. A short reply shows you have read it and helps put your side on record. If you disagree with the facts, say so politely and attach any proof you have.

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