Termination with notice

Written notice and equal notice periods

Termination notice, including resignation, must be written, such as a letter or email. Request a termination letter or acknowledgement to avoid disputes. Neither party generally has to state a reason when giving ordinary notice. Follow the contractual notice period, which must be the same for both parties; serve it or pay salary in lieu. A mutual waiver should be recorded in writing.

Where the contract has no notice period
Service	Notice
Less than 26 weeks	1 day
26 weeks to less than 2 years	1 week
2 years to less than 5 years	2 weeks
5 years or more	4 weeks

Counting dates: official examples

Count the notice-giving day, public holidays, rest days and non-working days. A one-day notice given today ends today. One month’s notice given on 15 July 2025 ends on 14 August 2025. For MOM’s February example, a one-month notice given on 29, 30 or 31 January 2025, or 1 February 2025, ends on 28 February 2025.

Leave, CPF and starting another job

Salary earned while still employed during notice attracts the usual CPF contributions. Salary in lieu of notice does not attract CPF. Fixed-term employees can also resign by serving the agreed notice or paying in lieu.

Effects of leave and other situations
Situation	Effect
Approved annual leave during notice	Notice end date stays unchanged and the full notice period is paid; the employee remains employed. Check contractual restrictions before starting a new job.
Annual leave used to offset notice	Requires employer agreement, advances the employment end date, and salary ends on that date. The offset leave is not separately paid; a new job may start after employment ends.
Unused annual leave at termination	Pay at the gross rate using last drawn salary, except misconduct dismissal, when unused leave is forfeited.
Unpaid leave	Granted at employer discretion; notice can be extended only with employee agreement.
Paid or unpaid sick leave under the Employment Act	Counts within notice; the employer cannot extend notice or demand short-notice payment.
Reservist training	Does not count in notice; a week of training extends notice by a week.
Starting another job before notice ends	The current employment continues, so check permission with the current employer.