{"id":357803,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/losing-a-job\/sample-employment-termination-contract.html"},"modified":"2025-04-24T11:21:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T16:21:50","slug":"sample-employment-termination-contract","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/losing-a-job\/sample-employment-termination-contract.html","title":{"rendered":"Employment Separation and Severance Agreements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Employment Separation and Severance Agreements<\/h1>\n
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\n By Balrina Ahluwalia, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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A separation agreement is a legal contract between an employer and an employee outlining the terms of the employee\u2019s departure. Typically, signing such an agreement means the employee agrees not to pursue legal action against the employer for claims related to their employment. Common provisions include severance pay, continuation of benefits, and confidentiality clauses. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

So, you and your employer are parting ways. Maybe you resigned or were laid off. Or perhaps your employer fired you. Regardless of the reason for the employment separation, your soon-to-be former employer may provide you with a separation or severance agreement for you to consider. Whether you decide to sign it<\/a> is entirely up to you. There are often several benefits to signing these agreements. But you\u2019re also typically forfeiting several rights when you do.<\/p>\r\n

As a result, it\u2019s critical you fully understand the agreement. It outlines your obligations as a former employee. You\u2019ll get a certain amount of time to review it. During this period, consider speaking with a qualified employment attorney<\/a>. They can explain the implications of the agreement\u2019s various terms and conditions. They may also potentially negotiate more favorable terms for you.<\/p>\r\n

While each separation agreement is unique, we\u2019ll explore some commonly used provisions in this article. But first, let\u2019s make sure we know what exactly a separation agreement is.<\/p>\r\n

Separation Agreements<\/h2>\r\n

An employee separation agreement is a contract between an employer and an employee who is leaving the company. This legal document includes details about the separation. It may include things like:<\/p>\r\n