Employment
How to ask for unpaid leave
Whether it's an extended holiday, a personal project, family circumstances or a sabbatical, asking for unpaid leave requires the right approach. Here's how to do it — and when you have a legal right to it.
Do you have a legal right to unpaid leave?
It depends on the reason. UK employees have a statutory right to unpaid leave in specific circumstances:
- Emergency dependants leave: Reasonable unpaid time to deal with an emergency involving a dependant (child, spouse, parent)
- Parental leave: Up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave per child, up to age 18, for eligible employees with 1+ year's service (max 4 weeks per year per child)
- Public duties: Jury service, magistrate duties, local council work
- Time off for young persons' education or training
For anything else — sabbaticals, extended travel, personal projects — there is no legal right, but many employers will agree if approached correctly.
How to make a compelling case for discretionary unpaid leave
- Frame it around business benefit: "A refreshed employee is more productive" or "I'll return with skills relevant to [X]"
- Plan the handover: Show you've thought about cover and continuity
- Be specific: Exact dates, exact duration — not "a few weeks sometime in autumn"
- Give plenty of notice: Asking 6 months in advance is very different from asking 6 weeks
- Have a backup position: If they can't approve the full period, would a shorter leave work?
Unpaid leave request template
✓ Template
Dear [Manager's name],
I would like to request a period of unpaid leave from [start date] to [end date] — a total of [X weeks].
[One sentence explaining the purpose — travel, family, personal development, etc.]
I have given this careful thought and I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth handover before my leave begins. I would be happy to brief [colleague] on my key responsibilities and ensure all projects are at a stable point before I go.
I understand this is subject to your approval and I'm happy to discuss the timing or duration if there are operational concerns.
Thank you for considering this request.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
I would like to request a period of unpaid leave from [start date] to [end date] — a total of [X weeks].
[One sentence explaining the purpose — travel, family, personal development, etc.]
I have given this careful thought and I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth handover before my leave begins. I would be happy to brief [colleague] on my key responsibilities and ensure all projects are at a stable point before I go.
I understand this is subject to your approval and I'm happy to discuss the timing or duration if there are operational concerns.
Thank you for considering this request.
Kind regards,
[Your name]
💡 Check your contract first. Some employment contracts include a sabbatical policy or provisions for extended unpaid leave. If yours does, reference it in your request — it strengthens your position considerably.
If they say no
Ask what would need to change for it to be possible. Timing, duration, coverage — sometimes a no becomes a yes with adjustments. If the answer is genuinely final, you have a decision to make: stay and accept it, or explore whether the leave matters enough to change jobs.