Termination of employment

Termination of employment refers to the end of an employee's duration with an employer. Depending on the case, the decision may be made by the employee, the employer, or mutually agreed upon by both.

Voluntary termination refers to a decision made by the employee to leave the job. Such a decision is commonly known as resignation, quitting, leaving, or giving notice. Some common reasons for voluntary termination include:

Personal dissatisfaction with job, employer, hours, or working conditions, or in more severe cases, burnout
Factors in employee's personal life not related to the job that make holding or performing the job impossible or more difficult. These may include family obligations, education, health, or moving to a new location.
Hire at a new job. Reasons for wanting a different job may be better working conditions, better hours, a shorter distance to work, better pay, graduation and preparation for entry into a new career, or a career change.
Feared or anticipated involuntary termination. The employee may wish to take matters into his/her own hands in order to leave more honorably.
Retirement. This may be as a result of the employee's age (which may vary, depending on job type and benefits available following retirement) or else an injury, disability, or other medical condition forcing early retirement.

Depending on the employee's reason, comfort with the employer, and dedication to the job, voluntary termination may be sudden and abrupt without warning to the employer, or with a certain amount of notice given. Generally, employers prefer that a departing employee provide at least some notice to the employer, often at least two weeks. Those in compliance with this requirement are more likely to be rehired by the same employer in the future, to receive their full benefits from the employer, and to get a better reference for future employers.

Involuntary termination refers to the employee's departure at the hands of the employer. There are two basic types of involuntary termination, known often as being "fired" and "laid off." To be fired, as opposed to being laid off, is generally thought of to be the employee's fault, and therefore is considered in most cases to be dishonorable and a sign of failure. often, it may hinder the now job-seeker's chances of finding new employment, particularly if he/she has been fired from earlier jobs. Job seekers will often not mention jobs that they were fired from on their resumes.