Appeal Letter Samples

If you ever feel you’ve been treated unfairly at work, it may be necessary for you to take action. A well-crafted appeal letter can clearly state your side of the situation and help convince the powers-that-be to overturn an unjust decision in your favor. Take a look at our free appeal letter samples below and use our expert tips to help create an effective appeal letter of your own.

The main purpose of your appeal letter is to convince the reader to reconsider your case. To that end, you should always stick to the facts and use clear well-thought-out arguments to get your point across, as seen in our own appeal letter samples.

Be Factual and Specific: If there are company policies or paperwork that supports your case, be sure to both reference this material and include the proper documentation Ñ i.e. citing directly from the company handbook or printed emails. In addition, list the dates and times of any key events that occurred whenever possible. Specific facts will be important in helping a decision maker verify your story.

Be Honest and Admit Mistakes: If you’ve done something wrong in the situation, own up to it. By accepting your responsibility and sharing what you’ve learned in this instance, you can demonstrate your integrity to the reader and help them see you, and your point of view, in a more favorable light.

Be Brief and Stay Focused:You never know how much time your reader will have to commit to your cause; by sticking to the necessary facts of your well-reasoned argument, you’ll make the best use of their time and help them reach their decision as soon as possible. It’s more important for the letter to be good, rather than long: 1-2 pages is an ideal length.

Be Meticulous and Stay Professional:Your appeal letter will make a far better impression if it is well written and free of any spelling and grammar mistakes. Also, keeping your language professional and free of slang will help the reader to take you and your concerns more seriously.

Your appeal should always be written in the style of a traditional business letter, as demonstrated in our appeal letter samples above. Always be sure to use the recipient’s name in the greeting and then capture their attention with a confident opening paragraph that briefly introduces you and your situation. In the following sections, lead the reader clearly through your argument, highlighting the facts of your case, and specifying how your unjust treatment can be reasonably resolved. In closing, thank the reader for their time and consideration, and be sure to include your contact information so they can properly follow up with you.

• Trying to Manipulate the Reader: Attempting to sway the readerby using flattery, making threats, or offering extravagant promises in exchange for a favorable decision will often do far more harm than good to your case.
• Overstating Your Case: When explaining your situation, avoid using exaggerated descriptors or overly dramatic language. If it is important for your argument to state your feelings, do so only as fact.
• Rushing the Process: Being too hasty while writing your appeal can lead to a poorly written letter that has a far greater chance of being disregarded, no matter how strong your case may be.

Writing a concise and factual appeal letter, like the ones in our appeal letter samples, is often the first step to getting any unjust work situation resolved. The next step is making sure your appeal gets into the right hands with the proper follow-up.

Do Your Research:Take the time to find the decision maker who can affect the specific changes you desire. The fewer hands your appeal has to pass through, the closer you’ll be to improving your work situation.

Stay In Touch:Once your appeal letter is received, be sure to follow up with the proper channels about their decision. Don’t rush the situation, but don’t let it linger on too long either. A friendly little check in after 5 to 10 days can work wonders (or less time if you have a pressing deadline).