NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

[COMPANY LETTERHEAD]

Date: [DATE]

To: [EMPLOYEE NAME]
[EMPLOYEE ADDRESS]

From: [AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY NAME & TITLE]
[COMPANY LEGAL NAME] (“Company”)

1. Recitals

1.1. The Company and [EMPLOYEE NAME] (“Employee”) entered into an at-will employment relationship on [HIRE DATE].
1.2. The Company has elected to terminate Employee’s employment pursuant to the at-will doctrine and in accordance with applicable Illinois and federal law.
1.3. This Notice of Termination of Employment (“Notice”) sets forth the terms and conditions of Employee’s separation from employment with the Company, effective as of the Separation Date defined below.

[// GUIDANCE: Use Recitals to establish context and consideration for enforceability while preserving at-will status.]

2. Definitions

For purposes of this Notice, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth below.

“COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, 29 U.S.C. §§ 1161–1169, and all applicable regulations.
“Company Property” means all tangible and intangible property (including keys, devices, documents, data, and intellectual property) belonging to the Company.
“Final Paycheck” has the meaning provided in Section 4.1.
“Separation Date” means [SEPARATION DATE] at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

3. Termination of Employment

3.1. Employment Termination. The Employee’s employment will terminate effective as of the Separation Date.
3.2. At-Will Status. Nothing in this Notice alters the at-will nature of the employment relationship prior to the Separation Date.

4. Final Compensation & Accrued Benefits

4.1. Final Paycheck. In compliance with 820 Ill. Comp. Stat. 115/5, the Company will issue Employee’s Final Paycheck, including:
 (a) All earned but unpaid wages through the Separation Date; and
 (b) Payment for any accrued, unused paid time off in accordance with Company policy, totaling [PTO HOURS] hours.
The Final Paycheck will be provided on or before the next regular payroll date, [PAYROLL DATE], via [PAY METHOD].

4.2. Expense Reimbursements. Submit any outstanding, properly documented business expenses within five (5) business days of the Separation Date for reimbursement in accordance with Company policy and the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act.

5. Benefits & COBRA Continuation

5.1. Group Health Coverage. Employee’s existing group health benefits will cease on the last day of the month in which the Separation Date occurs, subject to COBRA continuation rights.
5.2. COBRA Notice. Within fourteen (14) days following the Separation Date, Employee will receive a separate COBRA election notice from the Company’s COBRA administrator. Employee will have sixty (60) days from the date of that notice to elect continuation coverage, retroactive to the day following the loss of coverage.
5.3. Other Benefits. Coverage under all other Company-sponsored benefit plans (e.g., life, disability, 401(k)) will terminate in accordance with the governing plan documents. Contact [HR CONTACT INFORMATION] for plan-specific details.

6. Unemployment Insurance

The Company will provide the Illinois Department of Employment Security (“IDES”) pamphlet, “What Every Worker Should Know About Unemployment Insurance,” and will not contest Employee’s unemployment application except for statutory disqualifiers (e.g., misconduct). Final eligibility determinations are made by IDES.

[// GUIDANCE: Illinois employers must provide the IDES brochure upon separation; include it as a hard-copy or electronic attachment.]

7. Return of Company Property & Confidentiality

7.1. Property Return. On or before the Separation Date, Employee must return all Company Property, including but not limited to:
 • Laptop, mobile devices, keys, identification badges, credit cards, and any tangible materials;
 • All originals and copies (electronic or hard-copy) of Company documents or data.
7.2. Confidential Information. Employee remains bound by all confidentiality, non-disclosure, and restrictive covenant obligations contained in any prior agreement(s) with the Company.

8. Post-Employment Obligations

8.1. Restrictive Covenants. Any non-competition, non-solicitation, or invention assignment provisions previously executed by Employee survive termination in accordance with their terms.
8.2. Cooperation. Employee agrees to cooperate reasonably with the Company in any pending or future investigation, litigation, or administrative proceeding related to matters within Employee’s knowledge.

9. Governing Law & Forum

This Notice shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any action arising out of or relating to this Notice shall be brought exclusively in the state courts of competent jurisdiction located in [COUNTY], Illinois.

[// GUIDANCE: Forum selection mirrors metadata (“state_court”) and avoids arbitration clauses, consistent with user instruction.]

10. Non-Discrimination Statement

The decision to terminate Employee’s employment was made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

11. No Waiver of Claims; Severability

11.1. No Release. This Notice does not constitute a waiver or release of any claims by either party; any such release must be set forth in a separate, written agreement that satisfies applicable federal and state law (e.g., the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, if relevant).
11.2. Severability. If any provision of this Notice is held unlawful or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed and the remainder of the Notice shall remain in full force and effect.

12. Acknowledgment of Receipt

Please sign and date below to acknowledge receipt of this Notice. Employee’s signature indicates acknowledgment only and does not necessarily signify agreement with its contents.

13. Execution Block

[// GUIDANCE: Remove bracketed placeholders and guidance comments prior to final issuance; confirm statutory citations remain accurate after customization.]