If you do not have the funds to work with a career coach, you can 1) research other articles on Elephants at Work and glean an answer that works for you or 2) consider purchasing either of my eBooks, put in a little elbow grease and craft your own answers. There is always more to the story and that requires me to work with people individually in a coaching session. I generally respond to anyone that writes a comment, however, do not expect to receive advice that is 100% relevant to your situation. Please note: I get a lot of questions on this post for specific advice. Some states require employers to have the final paycheck at the time of termination.Įmployees who are in a union or are under an employment agreement will have a defined process in their contract and should refer to it for the correct procedure. If they do, contact your local Department of Labor. There are companies who terminate people in many ways – by phone, fax or e-mail – all without signatures required.Ĭompanies cannot withhold your final paycheck for not signing a termination notice. In most states, you are not required to sign a termination document – check your state’s regulations for additional information. Remember though, if you do not ask, you will never receive what you want. The company is not obligated to do this (unless you are being asked to do a separation agreement), so if they say “no” do not be surprised. There is no admission of guilt or agreement on why the company is terminating your services.Īsk the company to make a copy of your termination paperwork for your records. When you sign the termination papers, you can include the following phrase under your signature:īy including this caveat, you leave little doubt about why you are signing the document. Do you care? Maybe not, though it is always best to leave on good terms and there may be a win-win solution. If you refuse to sign your termination paperwork, your ex-employer will not be happy. These types of termination arrangements are often referred to as separation agreements and should reviewed by an attorney or at the very least considered carefully before signing your consent. If the termination letter is asking for a confession or admission of guilt or is stating you that you give up some employee rights, you can opt not to sign it.įor example, if the company wants you to say you quit and you are being laid off, are you still eligible for unemployment? Be sure to check your State Unemployment regulations.Īnother major concern is giving up your employee rights to any benefits, monies due (bonus, stock, equity), EEOC and unlawful termination claims or any rights to sue in exchange for a financial settlement. Does the letter outline any special circumstances?.How detailed is the letter – does it simply say you are being terminated on a specific day or does it state the reason for termination?.Does the letter demand that you give up some personal rights?.Is the document simply affirming that the company is firing you, letting you go, laying you off or asking you to say you quit?.Take a deep breath and read the document. So what are your options when you are in the middle of being terminated and the company is demanding you to sign off on some paperwork? Then the reality of “oh what did I just do” sets in. All you want to do is to get as far away from this situation as possible and you are ready to sign anything just to get out of the room. It does not matter if you are being terminated for cause or employment at will, you may feel like you are under stress or duress. This situation arises when terminations come as a surprise to you. He did not give me a copy of it and I think I might have signed something that says I did something wrong when I believe I have not done anything wrong. My manager puts the termination paperwork in front of me and tells me I have to sign it to get my final paycheck. I thought I was being called back to work, instead my manager fired me. “The company called me in after being on a three-day suspension.
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