Severances and settlement agreements

Terminating employment can be a difficult and sensitive process for both employers and employees.

Our employment lawyers are here to guide you through the process of severances agreements, ensuring that your interests are protected and that the process is handled with care and professionalism. We work closely with our clients to achieve the best possible outcome in both settlement and severance agreements, whether that be negotiating a severance agreement or representing you in a dispute.

• If you’re concerned that a departing employee could bring a claim against you in the future, you could offer an enhanced termination package within a settlement agreement where they renounce their right to make claims against the company in the future.
• A settlement agreement will be invalid if it fails to fully comply with the relevant legislation, so you will need to seek expert legal advice to ensure the agreement is drafted correctly.
• Our employment team has extensive experience of producing and negotiating settlement agreements, so we can take care of the process and put your mind at rest.

Are you concerned that an employee who is about to leave your business may have a possible claim against you? Would you like to seek to agree a financial sum on their termination to prevent them from bringing such a claim? Do you have an existing dispute with a current employee that needs to be solved?

Whether you are seeking to settle an existing dispute with an employee or ex-employee, considering dismissing an employee or you believe they may soon decide to leave your business, it is beneficial to consider whether they may have any claim against you, such as unfair dismissal, discrimination or unlawful deduction of wages. If you believe they may have such a claim, you might to consider agreeing an enhanced termination package with the employee and asking them to enter into a settlement agreement to renounce the claims. The employee will be required to get their own independent legal advice on the terms of the agreement.

What is a settlement agreement?

A settlement agreement is a legally binding agreement between an employer and an employee that sets out the terms and conditions of the termination of their employment relationship. The agreement will typically include details of the severance pay offered, any restrictions on the employee’s future conduct, and a waiver of the employee’s right to bring a claim against the employer in an employment tribunal.

Why would my business need a settlement agreement?

Once a valid settlement agreement has been signed by both parties, an employee will be unable to make an employment tribunal claim in relation to any type of claim listed in the agreement. In the absence of a settlement agreement, an ex-employee may be able to bring a claim against your business months or even years into the future.

The severance pay offered and any other terms cited within the agreement would be accepted by the employee in return for agreeing not to bring a future claim.

How much would a settlement agreement cost?

The fees for a settlement agreement depend on how complicated it is and how much negotiation is required for all parties agreeing to the terms. However, we will provide a full cost update throughout, so there are no surprises.

What is a severances agreement?

A severance agreement is a type of settlement agreement that is used to end an employment relationship when an employee is being made redundant. The agreement will typically include details of the severance pay offered, any restrictions on the employee’s future conduct, and a waiver of the employee’s right to bring a claim against the employer in an employment tribunal.