How to Terminate a Contract of Employment
A contract of employment is a document which outlines the terms and conditions of an employment agreement between an individual and a company. The contract is a legally binding document and parties are expected to abide by the terms of the agreement. This includes any agreements or clauses that relate to termination of the contract.
- Review the contract in detail. Pay particular attention to any parts of the contract that deal with the length of the employment term and termination clauses. If you have questions regarding any of the terms of the contract, seek the advice of a human resources representative or an attorney.
- Determine the notice period. This is the period between the notification of termination of employment and the final work day. In most cases, the notice period is at least two weeks in length, though the employment contract may specify a minimum notice period.
- Confirm that termination of the contract will not elicit any penalties. In some cases, failure to provide proper notice can result in monetary loss or require an employee to repay advanced funds due to not properly completing the terms of the contract.
- Draft a termination letter, sign and submit it to human resources. Include the date that the letter is being submitted for formal notification purposes. Be sure to include a final work date.