FREE Employee Termination Letter Templates

There’s no bigger challenge than firing an employee, especially for unavoidable reasons. Letting go of people whom you’ve worked for quite some time is never easy, even when it’s an act of disciplinary consequence. Our Employee Termination Letter Templates can help ease the process for you. It’s easily customizable in various file formats including MS Word, Pages, Google Docs, and MS Outlook, allowing easy access to any device. Get this today by availing of any of our subscription offers!

How to Make an Employee Termination Letter

Whether you send an employee termination email or hand over a printed copy, being the bearer of an unfortunate news is never fun. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of long-term unemployed in the country reached 3.6 million or 32.5% of the total unemployment rate as of October 2020.

A formal notice of termination outlining all the explanations of the matter makes it easier for both parties to manage the situation. Below are some tips you can use to make an employment termination letter:

1. Be Direct About the Reason

Never dilly-dally and go straight into stating the letter’s purpose and why the termination has to happen. If it’s a termination letter for misconduct, termination letter for poor performance, or termination letter misbehavior, it’s important to refer directly to a clause in the company policy.

2. Specify the Date

To avoid any confusion on the employee’s behalf, specify the termination month and day on the layoff letter. This allows the employee to know their exact last day at the office and better prepare for it.

3. Include Details About Compensation and Benefits

If there’s one thing that would bring relief to the terminated employee, it’s the information about their compensation and benefits before they leave the company. Tell them when they’ll receive their last paycheck, what additional bonuses they can receive, and what will happen to their insurance plans.

4. Mention the Signed Agreements

To avoid future conflicts and possible lawsuits, take the time to remind the employee about the agreement they signed with the company. This can include a nondisclosure agreement, a non-compete agreement, and a confidentiality agreement. Encourage them to review the agreements, in brief, to recall what the consequences are in case of a breach.