Apologize to an Employee or Employees • Example Letters, Guides and Samples

Guides

Write this brief letter as soon as possible after the incident. The apology should be unilateral. Do not attempt to apologize unless you plan to take full responsibility. A sincere, well-worded apology coupled with action goes a long way toward patching up damaged relationships with employees.

How to write this apology letter:

  1. Begin with a straightforward apology.
  2. Acknowledge your reader's frustration, if appropriate.
  3. If necessary, mention any action you will take to compensate your employee(s). End on a positive note.

Example Letter #1

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I apologize for the delay in sending last month's paychecks. I realize that you, too, need to meet your monthly obligations in a timely manner, and such delays do not help.

To avoid such frustrations in the future, we are changing to a computer system that will prepare checks a week in advance for distribution on payday. This unfortunate event should never be repeated. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Example Letter #2

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I understand that some of you have taken offense at my comments in Friday's meeting. I apologize to anyone I may have hurt. Sometimes we tend to be a little harder on those who we care about the most.

We share common goals of creating and selling the best products in the market, and I want us all to succeed. To lead you in that effort, we need to tap your ideas and hear your concerns. Please be prepared to meet with me in your groups. I will also be available for individual appointments. Call Jane to schedule times. Together we can achieve our goals and have fun in the process.

Example Letter #3

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I apologize for my failure to coordinate our efforts on the Springfield job. I know many of you lost valuable time waiting on some other phase of the job. This is unacceptable and will not happen again. I have instructed John Doe in payroll to pay everyone who lost time on the Springfield job for a full day's work. It is very important to me that we continue working together to provide the best remodeling in the business.

Example Letter #4

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Please accept my sincere apology for forgetting to schedule the time off that you had requested. It slipped my mind when I was making up the calendar, and then I went out of town and didn't have a chance to correct my mistake. To help make up for it, I have scheduled you for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off this week. I hope my error didn't cause you too much of a problem. I appreciate your professional attitude and the good job you do. I will make every effort to see that this doesn't happen again.

Example Letter #5

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I apologize for failing to mention that you had prepared the graphs for this morning's presentation. It must have been frustrating for you to not have your hard work acknowledged. As soon as I realized what I had done, I e-mailed all the board members, thanking them for attending and informing them that you were responsible for the excellent graphs. I hope this will help to make up for my oversight.

Write Your Letter Step-by-Step

1 Begin with a straightforward apology.

Sample Sentences for Step 1
  • I am truly sorry that the Christmas bonus checks were not ready for distribution at the Christmas party. It was disappointing for me not to be able to hand out your well-deserved bonuses this year as usual.
  • I apologize to everyone in the Research and Development Division for not being able to attend your division party last week.
  • I am sorry that I forgot to mention your very important contribution to the Doe project at the awards banquet.
  • John, this is a very difficult letter for me to write, so I will just tell you the bad news directly. The company has not approved the raise that I said was imminent. I am very sorry.
  • I am sorry I snapped at you during this morning's staff meeting.
  • Please accept my apologies for seeming somewhat paranoid these days. I assure you, it is no reflection on you.
  • I am very sorry to inform you that due to financial constraints, there will be no Christmas bonus in your December paycheck this year. For this I sincerely apologize.
Sample Phrases for Step 1
  • an apology is in order for
  • company cannot afford to give you the raise that
  • due to financial constraints there will be no Christmas bonus
  • forgot to mention your very important contribution to the
  • none of it is personal
  • not being able to attend your division party
  • oversight was not intentional
  • please accept my apology for
  • prefer to be candid with the bad news
  • sorry I snapped at you during

2 Acknowledge your reader's frustration, if appropriate.

Sample Sentences for Step 2
  • I know this must be frustrating to you. I appreciate your patience.
  • It was gracious of you to invite me, and I understand that you made special preparations for my coming. I was very much looking forward to being there, but emergency business prevented me.
  • I certainly hope I did not embarrass you or hurt your feelings. I know I am embarrassed by what I did.
  • I know this news must be very frustrating for you. Thank you for your patience. I am confident that with hard work and dedication we will soon rebound from this slump.
Sample Phrases for Step 2
  • am sure this caused you a great inconvenience
  • appreciate your patience
  • don't blame you for being
  • hope I did not embarrass you or hurt your feelings
  • it was very gracious of you to invite me
  • must be frustrating to you
  • must be extremely disappointed
  • sorry to cause you such
  • sorry to be the cause of
  • this news must be frustrating
  • understand that you made special preparations
  • you are thoroughly justified in

3 If necessary, mention any action you will take to compensate your employee(s). End on a positive note.

Sample Sentences for Step 3
  • I hope this did not cause great inconvenience to anyone. The checks should be ready to be picked up on January 5. Thank you for your understanding.
  • I really would like to visit your division. If it is convenient for you, I would enjoy coming to next year's party or to an earlier event.
  • As I nervously read the script for the presentation, I missed a few names, including yours. I regret that I did not publicly acknowledge your special skills and expertise, which we value so highly. I apologize for my mistake, but will recognize you and the others in a special section of the company newsletter. We appreciate the work you do at Doe Associates and hope to have you with us for many more years.
  • Unfortunately, our early projections did not anticipate the merger. Thank you for your hard work at our firm. I promise I will do my best to see that you receive your long-overdue raise.
  • Let me assure you that my reaction had more to do with insufficient caffeine intake this morning than it did with anything that you did. Thank you for your hard work.
  • I know this is small compensation for a canceled Christmas bonus, but I have managed to get a truckload of excellent roasting turkeys from Springfield Farm--one for every employee. At your convenience, please pick up your turkey from Jane Doe at the loading dock.
Sample Phrases for Step 3
  • appreciate the work you do at
  • appreciate your support
  • appreciate your professional attitude
  • checks should be ready to be picked up on
  • have managed to
  • please pick up your turkey from
  • promise I will do my best to see that
  • really would like to
  • thank you for your understanding
  • was very pleased with your
  • will recognize you in a special
  • will be more sensitive in the future