The New York State Employee Termination Kit
Here's everything you need to know and do to properly terminate an employee in New York State.
Introduction
Watch the video to learn more about our New York State Employee Termination Kit, which is now being used by over 1,000 employers in New York State to help make their termination process more efficient and effective.
What does the New York State Employee Termination Kit include?
- A basic How-To Guide to explain everything you need to know and consider as you prepare to terminate an employee.
- A bundle of all the forms you may need during the termination process.
- A bundle of all the official letters you may need for documentation during the termination process.
- A Termination Checklist to help you conduct a successful termination meeting.
The How-To Guide
Most states are “at-will”, meaning an employer or employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason, so long as it’s not discriminatory. Terminations are never easy, but this guide gives general guidance on the best way to conduct a termination to make it as painless for you and the terminated employee as possible.
Forms
You're stopping wages. You're terminating health coverage. You need an official termination letter. Possibly a severance agreement. During periods of transition, you need to have all your bases covered. Our Employee Termination Kit has all the forms you need.
Letters
Within 5 days of actual termination, employees must be notified in writing of the exact date of termination as well as the exact date of cancellation of benefits due to termination of employment.
An employer must give written notice to any employee who is terminated from employment, regardless of the reason for separation or whether it is a temporary or permanent separation. Our Kit includes sample letters to help you get started.
The Termination Checklist
Actually delivering the news is one of the - if not the - most difficult aspects of terminating an employee. In these moments it's important you say the things you need to say, refrain from saying anything that doesn't need to be said, and conduct the entire process "by the book."
The termination meeting checklist will come in handy for not only helping your prepare for the termination meeting, but while you're conducting it as well.
Checklists are a useful tool to ensure that you do not miss any steps in your HR processes. This short checklist is a great item to assist you in the steps of terminating a worker's employment with your organization. As the termination process is often a stressful time for all involved, having a printed reminder of what you need to make sure to do is very helpful.
Related Articles
Additionally, here are some other articles that focus on the difficult subject of terminating employees:

Can You Terminate An Employee Over the Phone?
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed a lot of ways Americans work, which means you may have a workforce that’s largely remote where termination is logistically difficult to do face-to-face.

8 Things to Know Before Disciplining or Terminating an Employee
The prospect of corrective action or termination makes a lot of managers nervous. Employers should be aware of the risks if it's not done properly.

The Difference Between a Severance Package and a Severance Agreement
Often lumped together, severance packages and severance agreements have important differences.

Alternatives to Employee Termination
If you’re concerned that terminating an employee might not be the right step to take - or at least not right now - there are some alternative actions you can take.

Can You Terminate An Employee On Leave?
Can you terminate an employee on leave, like Worker's Comp, FMLA or short-term disability? We explain what needs to be considered.

Can You Fire an Employee for Something They Did Outside of Work?
New York, like many states, has at-will employment. This means that you can fire an employee for any reason you want, so long as it’s not one that is explicitly illegal. This includes employee behavior outside of work.
Don't Go It Alone
Let's Start a Conversation
We have helped thousands of companies - mostly in New York State - terminate employees, and we would be glad to assist with yours during this difficult process.
Fill out the form below and let's talk about how Complete Payroll can help your business.
Request a NYS Termination Support Call
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