Apology Letter to Boss for Poor Performance

An employee who has not performed well for some time writes an apology letter to the boss. This document is addressed to the employer or boss and apologizes for the employee’s poor performance and for affecting the company’s productivity and profitability.

An organization expects its employees to show results, as their performance directly affects their profits. However, if an employee has a valid reason for his poor performance, the organization may give him some slack. Nevertheless, the cause and explanation must be appropriately communicated to the employer by the employee. One of the best ways for formal communication, which an employee can choose, is to write and send an apology letter.

If the organization has experienced the employee’s poor performance only for the short term, the chances of accepting his apology are high. However, if the scenario has influenced the organization to a great extent, the employer might not give much importance to the employee’s apology letter. The severity of the situation affects the information that needs to be included in an apology letter.

For instance, if the employee has shown promising results in the past but his current performance is not good, he can reference his past performance to make his apology valid.

Generally, the following details are included in an apology letter to the boss for poor performance:

  • Date.
  • Details of the employer.
  • Details of the employee.
  • The issue of poor performance and its effects
  • The reason behind the poor performance
  • Apology.
  • Seek forgiveness.
  • Reference to good past performance, if applicable.
  • Guarantee improvement.
  • Salutations.

The task does not end when the employee sends the letter. Instead, the employee has to show good performance and what he has committed to in the apology letter.

Sample Letters

#1

This is in response to your feedback for the report I submitted on Friday. Thank you for pointing out the errors. I apologize for the inconsistencies in the report and take full responsibility for my inability to meet standards.

I assure you that I will be more cautious in the future. I have noticed all the issues and will work to improve my performance.

Thank you for your patience and guidance.

#2

I am writing to express my sincere apologies for my poor performance during the XYZ Project and for not being able to meet your quality standards.

I take full responsibility for my shortcomings. Poor time management, poor planning, and lack of team coordination were some of the main issues that caused the project to fail. I shall work on these areas to improve significantly. I assure you that I will overcome these issues for my future tasks.

I appreciate your understanding and support. Thank you for giving me another chance to improve.

#3

I sincerely apologize for not meeting your expectations for the XYZ project. As the project leader, I take full responsibility for the poor performance of my entire team and sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the company.

This has been a significant learning experience for me. I have identified the areas that require more effort and realized the shortcomings that led to the project’s poor outcome. I assure you that I will strive hard to bring a noticeable improvement to all future projects. I request that you give me another opportunity to prove my commitment.

I would appreciate your further guidance. Please do enlighten me with your suggestions to increase the chances of our success in the future. Your feedback and supervision are valuable to me.

Once again, I’m sorry for not meeting the company’s expectations. I assure you I will perform better in the future.

I appreciate your cooperation.

#4

Thank you for providing feedback regarding my performance for the previous two months. I apologize for not being able to fulfill your expectations. I have noted your remarks and will work hard to improve.

Please rest assured that I will continue to sharpen my skills through the company’s training sessions. I am also willing to work extra hours to complete my everyday tasks more carefully.

Once again, I’m sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for giving me another chance. I’m grateful for your kindness.

#5

Dear Mr. Jim,

I apologize for my poor performance over the last few months.

I was on maternity leave until the end of December 20XX. When I returned in January, many new projects had been acquired, and the team was dealing with various clients. It took me some time to get back on track.

Alongside this, I was managing my baby and his babysitter arrangements. Due to this stress in my personal and professional life, I couldn’t manage both, and consequently, my performance at work suffered, affecting my team and the company. I know I should have been able to manage both, which is why I want to apologize to you.

I have worked with this organization for five years and have always been a hardworking and dedicated employee. You can even review my past employee evaluations. I will try to bring those evaluations back. I ensure that you will see my improved performance over the coming months.

I appreciate your understanding. I hope you accept my apology.

Regards,

Emily William.

Apology Letter to Boss for Poor Performance

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