policy template · Free download
Severance Agreement Template
A severance agreement template covering pay, benefits continuation, and a release of claims — flagged for legal review since terms vary sharply by jurisdiction.
Sign in with Google below to download the PDF and CSV straight away.
Get your free download
Sign in with Google to unlock the PDF and CSV instantly. No form to fill in.
Free. By continuing you agree to our terms and privacy policy. We record your email and this download; marketing emails only if you tick the box.
What you get
- Adoptable severance prose covering pay, benefits, and return-of-property
- A release-of-claims structure with placeholders instead of invented deadlines
- A fields block for company name, employee, and separation date
- A legal-review note on jurisdiction-specific terms and age-related waiver rules
Template preview
A preview of the structure. Download the PDF or CSV for the complete, ready-to-use version.
Legal caution: severance terms — required notice, minimum pay, and release-of-claims rules — vary significantly by state and country. In the US, releasing age-discrimination claims for employees 40 or older triggers specific OWBPA requirements, including minimum review and revocation windows that differ for individual versus group terminations. This template intentionally does not specify a number of days for any deadline. Do not fill those in yourself — have qualified employment counsel set every jurisdiction-dependent term before this agreement is offered.
Agreement details
- Company name
- Employee name
- Separation date
- Employee age (40+ triggers additional US requirements)
1. Purpose
This agreement sets out the severance benefits [Company name] offers to [employee name] in connection with the end of their employment, in exchange for a release of legal claims against the company. It is offered voluntarily and the employee is encouraged to review it carefully, including with an attorney of their choosing, before signing.
2. Severance pay & benefits
Describe what is being offered — fill in amounts based on your policy or negotiation.
- Severance payment of [amount or formula, e.g. weeks of pay per year of service]
- Continuation of [health benefits] for [a period to be set with counsel/benefits provider]
- Treatment of accrued but unused paid time off, per applicable law and policy
- Any outplacement support or references being offered
This is a preview — the full template continues in the download.
Sign in above to download the full template.
How to use this template
- 1
Confirm the terms with counsel
Have legal review the severance amount, benefits continuation, and release language before it's offered — especially any required waiting or revocation periods.
- 2
Fill in the specifics
Add the severance calculation, benefits treatment, and any post-employment obligations that apply to this employee.
- 3
Present it correctly
Give the employee adequate time to review, encourage them to consult their own advisor, and document the signed agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How much severance should we offer?
There's no universal formula — some employers use a set number of weeks per year of service, others negotiate case by case, and some jurisdictions mandate a statutory minimum. Base the amount on your policy, the employee's tenure and role, and legal minimums where they exist.
Do we have to give a specific number of days to review the agreement?
In the US, releasing age-discrimination claims from an employee 40 or older requires minimum review and revocation windows under OWBPA, and the minimums differ depending on whether it's an individual or group termination. Other jurisdictions have their own rules. This template deliberately leaves the number blank — have counsel set it correctly.
Can an employee still sue after signing a severance agreement?
A properly executed release generally bars claims that were validly released, but it cannot waive certain rights (like filing a charge with a government agency) and can be challenged if it wasn't offered fairly or without adequate time to review. This is exactly why legal review before offering the agreement matters.