You received a termination letter
A termination letter is a lot to take in at once, and most of what matters in it is factual: dates, notice, and money. Those are the parts worth reading carefully today; the rest can wait.
What this letter usually is
A termination letter records that your employment is ending. It commonly states a last working day, the notice being given or paid, and what the employer says is owed — final salary, untaken leave, and anything your contract adds.
What it usually asks for
Many termination letters ask you to acknowledge receipt, return company property, and confirm where a final payment should go. Some ask you to sign a settlement. Signing a settlement is a different act from acknowledging a letter, and it is worth knowing which one yours asks for.
The deadlines that commonly apply
Termination letters commonly set a date for returning property and a date for the final payment. Some set a window to raise a grievance. Your letter states its own; if it states none, it has none.
Three ways to respond
- 1Acknowledge receipt and ask for a written breakdown of the final payment.
- 2Reply setting out anything you believe is missing or wrong in the letter.
- 3Ask for a meeting before signing anything that looks like a settlement.
Show us your letter
Photograph it and we will tell you what it says it wants, by when, and write your reply. Nothing is sent until you say so.
Upload the letterIf your reply is a letter, we can send it for you and tell you when it arrives. What a tracked send is
Frequently asked questions
CraftMyLetter writes and delivers letters. It is not legal advice, we are not a law firm, and nothing here is a statement of what any law requires.