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Employee Separation Agreement
Free employee separation agreement template — documents the terms of an employee's departure, often including severance in exchange for a release of claims.
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This free employee separation agreement covers 1. Separation, 2. Severance, 3. Benefits, 4. Release of Claims, 5. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement with 6 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for small business owners and first-time managers handling an HR moment professionally without a dedicated HR department to lean on. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Employee Separation Agreement
Company: [Company Name] · Employee: [Name] · Separation Date: [Date]
1. Separation
Employee's employment with Company ends effective [Date].
2. Severance
In exchange for the release below, Company will pay Employee severance of [Amount], less applicable withholdings, paid [Lump sum / over [Period]].
3. Benefits
[COBRA continuation information, and whether Company will subsidize premiums for any period.]
4. Release of Claims
In exchange for the severance above, Employee releases Company from any and all claims arising from their employment or its termination, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
5. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement
Both parties agree to keep the terms of this Agreement confidential [except as required by law] and not to disparage the other.
6. Return of Property
Employee will return all Company property (laptop, badge, keys, documents) by [Date].
7. Revocation Period
[If applicable under ADEA for employees 40+: Employee has 21 (or 45) days to consider this Agreement and 7 days after signing to revoke it.]
Company: ______________________ Date: ____________ Employee: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For employees 40 or older, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act sets specific requirements (consideration period, revocation window, plain-language disclosures) for a release to be enforceable — an agreement missing these can have the release invalidated entirely.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 7 standard sections: 1. Separation, 2. Severance, 3. Benefits, 4. Release of Claims, 5. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement, 6. Return of Property, …
- 6 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Growing teams
Formalizing hiring and performance processes as a company adds its first employees.
FAQ
Is this employee separation agreement template really free?
Yes, completely free — view, edit, and download this employee separation agreement as a PDF without creating an account.
What does this employee separation agreement cover?
This hr template includes 1. Separation, 2. Severance, 3. Benefits, 4. Release of Claims. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. This follows common HR practice, but requirements around notice, classification, and required disclosures shift by state and change over time. Get an employment attorney or HR professional to confirm compliance for your specific situation before relying on it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes. All 6 placeholder fields and every clause are editable right on the page — change what doesn't fit, then download an updated PDF anytime.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free hr and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
More free document templates
- Employee Offer Letter
- Employee Written Warning / Disciplinary Notice
- Employment Agreement
- Cover Letter
- Employee Handbook Outline
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Why use this instead of a generic template
Security
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Legality
Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
Privacy
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Speed
Copy the subject and body directly — no form to fill in, no export step, no waiting on a download link.
Mobile-friendly
Every template page works the same on a phone as a desktop — copy on the go, no app required.
API available
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