Writing a Letter of Termination

Small business owners are facing tough times these days because of the bad economy in America. In times like these, business owners can't afford to waste money in any way. Because of this sad fact, knowing how to write letters of termination is becoming a necessity. Although its probably not something business owners want to do, it may be necessary to the survival of a small business.

Before writing the letter, you should talk to the employee and try to work out any problems you may be having. Should this not work, ask the employee to resign. This will benefit them because they won't have a termination of their record. If this doesn't work, writing a letter of termination may be the next and final step.

Begin the letter by giving a summary of the employee's history at your company. State the behavior that has led to this decision and why the employee is being dismissed. Everything must be truthful. If the employee decides to challenge your decision, false statements could work against you. If you leave out any of your reasons for termination in the letter, be sure to keep a record of them on file. Tell the employee your company's privacy policy on termination. Assure them that the only information that will be released to prospective employers is job title, date of employment, and salary, should this be your policy. Be sure to show concern for the employee's future and well-being, avoiding any kind of hostile tone.