Medical leave letter to your employer, without oversharing
You need time off for surgery, treatment or recovery, and you have to tell your employer in writing. You don't want to share more health details than necessary. This prompt has your todo.is agent read your company's leave policy, write a short request with the dates, mention the doctor's note, and offer a simple plan for your work while you are away.
The prompt
- Write a medical leave request letter to [MANAGER OR HR NAME] at [COMPANY NAME]. I am [YOUR NAME, JOB TITLE]. I need leave from [START DATE] to [EXPECTED RETURN DATE] for [GENERAL REASON, E.G. PLANNED SURGERY AND RECOVERY]. I will provide [DOCTOR'S NOTE OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE]. Our leave policy is attached or here: [LINK OR "NOT AVAILABLE"]. Read it and tell me what notice, forms and paid sick leave rules apply. Keep my medical details general. Keep the letter under 250 words, professional and calm, ask them to confirm the leave in writing, and include a short handover plan for [MY KEY TASKS]. Give me a Word file, a PDF and an email version.
What to change
- [MANAGER OR HR NAME]: Who approves leave at your company.
- [COMPANY NAME]: Your employer.
- [YOUR NAME, JOB TITLE]: E.g. "Priya Shah, Senior Accountant".
- [START DATE]: The first day you will be off.
- [EXPECTED RETURN DATE]: Your best estimate. You can say it may change.
- [GENERAL REASON, E.G. PLANNED SURGERY AND RECOVERY]: Keep it general, e.g. "a medical procedure and recovery". You do not have to share a diagnosis.
- [DOCTOR'S NOTE OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE]: E.g. "a note from Dr Allen confirming 6 weeks of recovery".
- [LINK OR "NOT AVAILABLE"]: Attach the employee handbook or paste a link to the leave policy.
- [MY KEY TASKS]: E.g. "monthly payroll, supplier payments, audit prep".
Example result
- Medical leave request
- Priya Shah
- Senior Accountant, Finance Team
- 12 October 2026
- Dear Mark,
- I am writing to request medical leave from Monday, 3 November 2026 to Monday, 15 December 2026. I need to have a planned medical procedure, and my doctor has advised about six weeks of recovery before I return to work.
- I will provide a note from my doctor confirming the dates. If my recovery is faster or slower than expected, I will let you know as soon as I can.
- I have read our leave policy and understand that I need to complete the leave request form in the HR portal. I will submit it this week. Please let me know if you need anything else from me.
- Handover plan
- • Monthly payroll: Jenna has shadowed me for two cycles and will run the November and December payroll, with a written checklist.
- • Supplier payments: I will schedule all regular payments up to 31 December before I leave.
- • Audit prep: I will share the folder and a status note, and introduce Tom to the auditors on 28 October.
- I would be grateful if you could confirm my leave in writing.
- Thank you for your support.
- Kind regards,
- Priya Shah
- What you do not need to share
- • Your diagnosis or treatment details
- • Medical records (a doctor's note is usually enough)
- Things to check
- • How much paid sick leave you have and when it switches to unpaid
- • Whether job-protected leave applies to you (for example FMLA in the US, or local equivalents)
- • Any forms your employer or insurer needs
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your dates, the general reason and your key tasks.
- Attach your employee handbook in todo.is, or send the prompt to your agent on Telegram.
- Your agent checks the policy, writes the letter and gives you Word, PDF and email versions.
- Send it to your manager or HR and ask your agent to add your leave dates to your calendar.
Tips for a better result
- You can keep it general. "A planned medical procedure" is enough for most employers, along with a doctor's note.
- Give as much notice as you can for planned surgery. It makes approval and cover easier.
- In the US, ask HR whether FMLA applies to you. In other countries, ask about statutory sick pay or local job-protected leave.
- Ask your agent to check your Gmail for HR's reply and remind you to send the doctor's note.
medical leave letter: FAQ
- What should a medical leave letter include? Your leave dates, a general reason, that you will provide a doctor's note, a handover plan, and a request for written confirmation.
- Do I have to tell my employer my diagnosis? Usually not. Most employers only need a doctor's note confirming you need time off. Rules vary, so check with HR or local guidance.
- Can my employer refuse medical leave? It depends on local law, your contract and company size. In many places, some medical leave is protected by law. Ask HR or a local employment advice service.
- Is this medical or legal advice? No. It's a draft letter. Follow your doctor's advice for recovery and check leave rights with HR or an adviser.
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