[ To be typed on headed notepaper of employer ] [Date] Dear [insert name of employee], Re: [insert name of employer] (the Company) I refer to our meeting on [date], when I explained that there has been a sudden and significant downturn in our business due to [insert details of the reason for the business downturn]. Unfortunately, this means that the Company needs to find ways of saving costs as a matter of urgency. 1 [ [ LAY-OFF: ]As I explained at our meeting, the Company is therefore asking [all ]employees [in your department ]to agree to a temporary lay-off from work [insert reason for request, eg because we are closing our factory at [location] for the next month]. This will be a temporary suspension only: you will remain employed, the Company is not proposing to dismiss you and you would return to work at the end of the lay-off period. It is currently anticipated that the lay-off will last for approximately [insert number] [days OR weeks OR months]. However, the date on which the need for the lay-off ends depends