Termination Letter Template

Ending an employment relationship is never easy. The way it’s communicated can have a lasting impact — on the departing employee, their peers, and the overall workplace culture. This termination letter template provides a structured, professional way to document and deliver termination decisions while ensuring the process remains respectful and legally compliant.

This template outlines the key elements every termination letter should include: the effective date of separation, the reason for termination, details about final pay and benefits, and clear next steps. By standardizing the language, organizations reduce risk, avoid miscommunication, and ensure employees leave with clarity and dignity.

Key features:

• Clear structure for communicating termination decisions
• Sections for final pay, PTO, and benefits continuation
• Guidance for next steps and property return
• Flexible format for reductions in force or individual cases
• Written to balance compliance, clarity, and care

Whether navigating a reduction in force, a restructuring, or an individual performance case, this termination letter template helps HR teams and managers approach these difficult moments with professionalism, empathy, and consistency.