Termination documents and templates library

Either the employee or the employer can decide to terminate a contract of employment. Employees may terminate their contract by resigning from the employer, and an employer may terminate the contract by dismissing the employee.

Employee termination templates are pre-designed documents that provide guidance and structure to HR professionals and managers when and employee leaves an organisation, whether by dismissal, or by resignation. These templates typically include a range of legally required and recommended components, such as the reason for termination, the effective date of termination, and any severance pay or benefits owed to the employee.

It is important to note that the specific components and format of these templates may vary depending on the laws and regulations in your jurisdiction and the terms of the employee's contract.

It is always recommended to obtain legal advice before terminating an employee's contract.

All our termination templates, document and guidance meet the legal / best practice frameworks in all relevant UK legislation or Codes of Practice (examples below), to help you minimise your risk and ensure you maintain good practice and compliance:

• Employment Rights Act 1996: This act outlines the statutory rights of employees, including the right to receive notice of dismissal, the right to appeal against dismissal, and the right to a written statement of reasons for dismissal.

• The Equality Act 2010: This legislation prohibits discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in the workplace, including during the dismissal process, and employers must ensure that they do not discriminate against employees based on any protected characteristic.

• The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE): This regulation protects employees' rights when a business or part of it is transferred to a new employer, and requires the new employer to take on the employees under the same terms and conditions of employment.

• The Redundancy Payments Act 1965: This legislation requires employers to pay statutory redundancy payments to employees who have been made redundant, based on their length of service and age, and employers must ensure that they comply with these requirements.

• The Employment Rights Act 1996 (Amendment) Regulations 2021: These regulations introduced new rules around the calculation of statutory redundancy payments and notice periods, and employers must ensure that they comply with these new requirements.

• The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2013: These regulations set out the rules and procedures for bringing claims before an employment tribunal, including claims relating to dismissals, resignations, and redundancies.

• The ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures: This code provides guidance on how employers should handle disciplinary and grievance procedures, including dismissals, and employers should follow this code to ensure that they comply with best practice and avoid potential claims.

Our toolkit or template pages highlight (where applicable) the specific legislations that are relevant to each template, and how they help the template meet the required standards.