Ending a contract of service
Either employer or employee may terminate employment through resignation, dismissal or expiry of a project or fixed contract term. Both must observe the contract’s termination terms. An employer cannot reject a resignation: an employee may resign at any time by serving the required notice or paying the equivalent salary in lieu. Preventing an employee from leaving is an offence.
Steps to handle termination
Give written notice according to the contract. Annual leave can offset notice only with employer agreement; leaving without notice generally requires salary in lieu. Misconduct requires an inquiry before discipline. A worker who believes dismissal was wrongful can bring a TADM claim. Arrange a smooth handover and settle salary and allowances. Employers are encouraged to designate a contact to help former staff apply for support such as the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme.
Related topics and services
Documents and references
- file a wrongful dismissal claim at TADM ↗ Reference
- SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme ↗ Government source