Ending the employment relationship can be relatively painless if properly conducted in adherence to a well-written handbook policy and legally compliant procedures.

Policy Drafting Tips and Best Practices:

• Require immediate return of all company property;
• Explain the purpose of any exit interviews;
• Ensure final pay includes all accrued, unused vacation hours;
• Issue final paychecks on the same day of termination or layoff;
• Issue final paychecks within 72 clock hours to employees who quit with less than 72 hours of notice;
• Pay resigning/retiring employees — who have given at least 72 hours of notice — on their last day of employment; and
• State whether the company has a policy of providing departing employees with severance pay.

Take-Aways:

Implement and regularly review your handbook to include a resignations and terminations policy.
We publish this series to educate employers on best practices for a well-written handbook that assists applicants, employees, and management alike. To purchase our 2023 template handbook – which contains the above policy and much more – and accompanying forms or for more information, please contact Office Manager Aimee Rosales at 626.583.6600 or email her.

See also:

• Build Trust Workplace Policy & Forms For 2023 – Rule Tools (July 5, 2023)
• Bidding Farewell Not Unfondly – Using Severance Agreements in Touchy Terminations (September 24, 2021)
• Employee Terminations – Firing Low-Performing Workers While Limiting Repercussions (April 20, 2018)

Cindy Bamforth
July 13, 2023