Termination and Resignation Templates

Ending employment is where employment law is most often tested. The notice or pay in lieu owed, any statutory severance, the timing of final pay, vacation pay, benefits continuation and the record of employment all depend on the jurisdiction, the employee's service and the reason for the termination. A letter that gets these details wrong, or says too much about the reasons, can create liability that a carefully written letter would have avoided.

These templates are written for a named jurisdiction's employment standards legislation. Each one sets out the entitlements the law requires, the dates that matter, what happens to pay, benefits and company property, and the next steps for the employee, in a respectful and professional tone. Guidance notes explain how to calculate each entitlement and shaded fields show what to complete.

Termination letters are not the place to negotiate a release. If you are offering more than the statutory minimum in exchange for a release, have an employment lawyer prepare that agreement.