QandAs: Career

What is Termination?

Answer:
Job termination simply means the end of a particular employee's employment with a company or organization.

Termination can be initiated by the employee, in the case of a resignation, or by the employer, as in layoffs and firings. There are many legal and ethical procedures that must be followed upon termination, depending on who initiated the termination.

Usually, in the case of a termination which is initiated by an employee, it is convention to give at least two weeks notice, so that the position can be filled by somebody else who has been carefully selected and trained. Employee initiated job terminations are usually not eligible for unemployment benefits because the employee is leaving willingly. In cases of job terminations where the employee is fired or laid off, the employee should file for unemployment benefits. People who feel that they have been unjustly fired should check with their union or employment office to see if they have legal recourse.