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Learn more about Employment Termination Letter in India

In general, employers do not terminate an employee’s employment. Unless the employer has given the employee written notice of the day the employment is to be terminated. An employer must use a Termination letter when it wishes to terminate an employee’s employment because of unsatisfactory performance or conduct. Themis Partner provides you with a sample letter where the employer must state the reasons for the termination, the length of the notice period, and the date on which the employment will be terminated. It is essential to consult with someone who specializes in India labor law to fully understand your rights and potential claims.

Table of contents


What is an Employee Termination Letter in India?

An Employee termination letter in India is used when an employer needs to terminate an employee’s employment for something they have done. Often, Employee termination letters in India are sent after an employer notice that an employee has engaged in behavior that is not acceptable or not allowed.
It is common in situations that require an Employee termination letter to speak to the employee about the behavior or performance in person, either immediately before or immediately after the letter is sent, but it is not required. A formal record should be created of the employee’s poor behavior or performance before termination.

What are the rules governing employee termination letter in India?

Firstly, any termination must comply with federal and state laws, as these laws supersede contractual provisions. Thus, contractual provisions must be consistent with the law. State laws are particularly important where there are no defined termination procedures or where there is a dispute in the interpretation of those procedures.

Secondly, it is relevant to examine the laws governing termination in several destinations in India. These case analyses represent standards in state labor laws across India:

➤ The Union Territory of Delhi State labor law: Under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, an employer may not terminate an employee who has worked for the company for more than three months without giving the employee at least 30 days' notice or pay instead of notice. The employer is not required to give notice if misconduct is the cause of the termination. However, the employee in such circumstances should be given a reasonable opportunity to explain the charge against him or her before termination.
➤ Maharashtra State Labor Law: Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 1948, an employer may not dismiss an employee who has been with the company for more than one year without giving the employee at least 30 days written notice. If an employee has been with the company for more than three months but less than one year, the employer must give at least 14 days' notice. Notice is not required if the employee is terminated for misconduct.
➤ Karnataka and Tamil Nadu State labor laws: Under the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act, 1961 and the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, an employer may not dismiss an employee who has been with the company for more than six months, except for "reasonable cause”. In addition, an employer must provide one month's notice. If misconduct is the termination’s cause, no notice or associated payment is required.

Finally, under Indian labor law, an employee can be legally terminated from an organization for any of the following reasons:

➤ Total disobedience or insubordination
➤ Fraud, dishonesty, or theft
➤ Intentional loss of or damage to employer property
➤ Acceptance of bribes or illegal gratuities
➤ Absence without requesting leave for more than 10 days
➤ Late attendance
➤ Disorderly conduct while on the job
➤ Neglect of duty

How to terminate an employee in India?

First and foremost, the Employee termination letter in India can be used when an employer, human resources manager, or other supervisor wishes to terminate an employee’s contract as a result of unacceptable behavior. In this letter, questions will be asked to establish the type of behavior or violation that is occurring. The letter sets out the terms and conditions, includes identifying information for each party, details on the reason for termination, the notice period, and a space for the employee to sign to the letter’s acknowledge receipt.

Secondly, in most cases, Employment contracts are very specific about the termination process. This facilitates the termination process when it is mutually agreed upon and when employment is contracted for a fixed term. An employee is considered terminated upon the conclusion of such a contract unless a new contract is offered, or the original contract’s terms are changed. As in most countries, employees in India who are terminated by employers often receive one month’s notice or payment of one month’s salary in lieu thereof.

In addition, in the case of dismissal where the employee has been with the company for at least two years and the reason for dismissal is economic, a severance package is calculated. It depends on the length of employment, performance, and salary level.

Finally, wrongful termination, or failure to follow due process as defined by the respective state and federal laws, will result in legal punitive consequences for the employer. In addition, the courts may order the employer to pay fines and provide additional compensation to a terminated employee.

How to comply with the law when terminating an employee?

Firstly, the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 requires a notice period of 30 to 90 days for the termination of “workers”.

Secondly, India’s labor laws list the following reasons for termination for a cause: insubordination or willful disobedience, theft, fraud or dishonesty, willful damage to or loss of employer’s property, participation in bribery or any illegal gratuity, absence without leave for more than 10 days, habitual late attendance, disorderly conduct during working hours, or habitual neglect of duty.

Thirdly, employers who terminate for convenience must ensure that the last person to join the organization in the same role is terminated first.

Finally, non-compete agreements are not enforceable under Indian law, while non-solicitation clauses can only be enforced to a limited extent.

Do you need to send termination notice?

Termination notice is a crucial part of terminating an employee. In India, the termination notice must be given 30 to 90 days before termination. This notice must be given in writing, clearly stating the reason the employee is being terminated.

Do you have to pay any compensation?

Firstly, compensation pay is offered to employees who retire, are terminated, or reach the end of their contractual agreements. One month’s salary must be paid to employees who have worked one year or more. For collective dismissals in protected sectors, 3 months’ salary must be offered to employees. The Payment of Gratuity Act of 1972 entitles employees to payment of gratuity after five years of continuous service.

Secondly, the Labor Disputes Law of 1972 also stipulates that dismissed workers must receive 15 days of compensation pay for each year of service they have completed.

What to do against wrong termination?

An improper termination, or failure to follow due process as defined by state law, will result in legal punitive consequences for the employer. Thus, employers must ensure that management teams and Human Resources professionals are fully informed about termination procedures. Contracts can protect employers. As such, management teams and Human Resources professionals must ensure compliance with employment law to protect them from adverse litigation.

Employee who has been dismissed has a legal right to appeal to his or her judicial authority. The employee may appeal to a court for one of the following reasons:

➤ The employer terminated an employee without giving a specific reason
➤ The employee was not found guilty of misconduct and pleads innocent
➤ The employee believes that the termination was for improper reasons

When an employee seeks redress for any of the above grievances, he or she must first build a case and seek approval from his or her local labor authorities. Once approval is granted, the case can be heard by the court conciliators or the industrial tribunal. Most labor disputes in India take between six months and two years to resolve.

Secondly, any dismissal for misconduct must be replaced by an internal investigation conducted under the justice principles. The employee must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard as part of the investigation process. If a worker’s services are terminated for reasons other than misconduct, in addition to the termination notice, the employer is also required to serve notice on the appropriate government.

Finally, the laws in India offer workers and employees considerable protection. Courts as well as state and federal labor departments often take a pro-worker position in termination disputes. It is not uncommon for dismissed employees to exercise their right to appeal or to coordinate through unions in cases of mass layoffs.

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