Termination of employment contract - template 2026 free

Q: What is the difference between giving notice and reaching an agreement to terminate employment?

Termination is a unilateral decision. A mutual agreement to terminate the employment relationship (§54 of the Labour Code) is a contract by which both parties agree to end the employment.

Q: How to terminate an employment contract during the probation period?

During the probationary period (from 1 June 2025 for a maximum of 4 months, or 8 months for managerial employees), the employment relationship is not terminated by notice but by cancellation in accordance with Section 66 of the Labour Code - in writing, without stating a reason and without a notice period. The relationship ends on the day the cancellation is delivered, unless a later date is specified therein.

Contents

Termination of employment ratio: everything you need to know

Legal basis, notice period, differences between termination and mutual agreement to dissolve the contract.

Notice of termination given by the employee

An employee has the right to resign without giving a reason. Notice period: at least 2 months; from 1. 6. 2025 it runs from the day of delivery of the notice.

Termination notice issued by the employer

The employer may terminate only for reasons listed exhaustively. These must be clearly stated in the termination letter.

Termination during the probation period

During the probationary period (maximum 4 months, 8 for managers), the employment relationship is terminated pursuant to § 66 of the Labour Code, in writing, without cause and without notice; it ends on the day of delivery.

Termination Agreement

A two-sided agreement with no notice period to observe. A termination fee can be agreed upon.

Download

Template for free download

01 · PDF

For quick use

Open immediately in Adobe Reader, Preview or Chrome. Print or fill in digitally.

Open verified template ↗

02 · DOCX

For adjustments in Word

Editing in MS Word, Pages, Google Docs. Adjust the details to suit your situation.

Open verified template ↗

Questions and answers

What is frequently you ask

Must a notice of termination state a reason?

A notice of termination given by an employee (§50 of the Labour Code) does not need to state a reason. A notice of termination given by an employer (§52 of the Labour Code) must contain a specific reason from an exhaustive list.

When does the notice period begin?

From 1 June 2025 (flexible amendment to the Labour Code), the notice period runs from the day the notice is delivered and ends on the date that numerically matches it. Example: notice delivered on 15 March → employment relationship ends on 15 May. Details in the article. Notice period following the 2025 changes.

What is the difference between giving notice and reaching an agreement to terminate employment?

A notice of termination is a unilateral legal act. A mutual agreement to terminate (§54 of the Labour Code) is a contract by which both parties agree on ending the employment relationship. The statutory two-month notice period does not need to be observed in such an agreement.

How to terminate an employment contract during the probation period?

During the probation period (from 1 June 2025 for a maximum of 4 months, or 8 months for managerial employees), the employment relationship is not terminated by notice but by cancellation pursuant to Section 66 of the Labour Code: in writing, without stating a reason and without a notice period. The employment relationship ends on the day the cancellation is delivered, unless a later date is specified therein.

As an employee, am I entitled to a severance payment?

Not automatically. Entitlement to a severance payment arises only if: it is stipulated in the employment contract, the employer terminates without stating a reason, or it is agreed upon in a termination agreement.