Separation Agreement
Written terms of separation, including severance, release of claims, and consideration for any waiver of claims; must state clear effective date and conditions for payment.
A professional Employee Exit Package clarifies final compensation, preserves legal compliance, and documents mutual obligations to reduce litigation risk and administrative confusion.
Employers, HR teams, and legal counsel usually prepare exit packages; departing employees and managers are primary recipients.
Use an exit package whenever employment ends—voluntary or involuntary—to ensure consistent handling and legal documentation.
Responsible for drafting the practical elements: final wages, benefits continuation, COBRA notices, and logistics for equipment return. Ensures payroll and benefits teams receive instructions and deadlines to meet statutory payout rules.
Reviews release language, noncompete and confidentiality clauses, and confirms enforceability under governing law. Advises on whether notarization, witness, or specific statutory notices are required in the applicable jurisdiction.
Written terms of separation, including severance, release of claims, and consideration for any waiver of claims; must state clear effective date and conditions for payment.
Itemized final wages, accrued PTO payout where required, deductions, and timing of payment to comply with state wage statutes.
COBRA eligibility notice, benefits termination dates, and instructions for electing continuation coverage where applicable.
Checklist for company devices, badges, keys, and intellectual property; include contact and deadline for returning items.
Non-disclosure and trade secret protections, specifying scope, duration, and any IP assignment language needed for technology or creative roles.
Information about tax withholding, form W-2 timing, and whether payments are reportable as wages or taxable severance.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Type | Electronic signature with audit trail |
| Authentication | Email + SMS code or stronger ID verification |
| Routing | Sequential: employee then employer then HR |
| Storage | Encrypted archive with access controls |
Choose a platform that supports secure signing, audit trails, and the document formats your HR systems use.
Ensure the solution can produce tamper-evident signed copies, meet your retention policy, and integrate with recordkeeping systems.
Varies by state for payout deadlines
60 days from notice in most cases
To employee by Jan 31
Retain per 8 CFR §274a.2 timeframes
1099 or other filings per IRS deadlines
Deliver separation documents and benefit notices to the employee.
Process and disburse final wages per state law.
Notify benefits vendors and confirm COBRA procedures.
Archive signed package and related records securely.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |