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Terminations & Offboarding

Let people go the right way

A termination handled badly is how a routine separation becomes a wrongful-termination claim. We make sure the decision is defensible, the conversation is humane, and every step — final pay, documentation, offboarding — is done correctly.

The problem

Terminations go wrong in predictable ways

Almost every termination that turns into a lawsuit failed in one of a few predictable ways: no documentation leading up to it, a reason that shifted or didn't hold up, a final paycheck that violated state timing rules, or a conversation that humiliated the person and motivated them to call a lawyer. None of these are hard to avoid — if you know they're coming.

What we handle

Everything terminations & offboarding requires, run by someone who's done it before.

Termination review

Before anyone is let go, we pressure-test the decision: Is it documented? Is the reason consistent? Is there a retaliation or discrimination risk? We surface the exposure while it can still be addressed.

The conversation

We prepare the manager (or join the conversation) so it's brief, clear, humane, and doesn't create new liability through an offhand comment.

Final pay & timing

State final-pay rules vary enormously — some require same-day payment. We make sure the final check, accrued PTO, and timing are correct for your state.

Documentation

A clean separation file: the reason, the supporting record, and the paperwork — the documentation that makes the decision defensible if it's ever challenged.

Layoffs & RIFs

For reductions in force, we handle selection-criteria review, WARN-act considerations, severance, and release agreements so a layoff doesn't become a class of claims.

Offboarding

Access removal, equipment return, COBRA notices, and a structured exit — the operational tail that protects your data and closes the loop cleanly.

Common questions

Terminations & Offboarding FAQ

How do I fire someone without getting sued?

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Make sure the decision is documented and consistent, the reason holds up and doesn't shift, there's no retaliation or discrimination angle, the final paycheck follows your state's timing rules, and the conversation is brief and humane. Most wrongful-termination claims trace back to a failure in one of those areas — all of which are avoidable with preparation.

When does final pay have to be issued after termination?

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It depends entirely on the state — some require the final paycheck the same day for involuntary terminations, others allow until the next regular payday, and accrued-PTO payout rules vary too. Getting this wrong creates penalties on top of the wages owed. We handle the timing per state.

Can you help with a layoff or reduction in force?

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Yes. We handle RIF selection-criteria review (to avoid disparate-impact claims), WARN-act notice considerations, severance structuring, and release agreements. A layoff carries different and often larger risk than an individual termination, so the process matters even more.

How much does termination support cost?

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Termination and offboarding support is included in our retainers starting at $1,800/month, with on-call access for the situations you don't want to face alone. For a layoff or a single high-risk termination, we can engage on a focused project basis.
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