Human Resource Blog

Yes. Because there is a written agreement in place, the employer is expected to abide by it and provide the employee with 30 days written notice.

Generally, whenever there is a written agreement in place, the employer is expected to honor it. When you wrote the agreement, business was probably good and you did not foresee the necessity for a reduction in force, but times have changed. Unfortunately, that does not change the written agreement.

No, there is no requirement that the employer pay any of these benefits to terminated workers.

Under both federal and Florida law, the employee is entitled to payment for every day or hour that the employee worked. That is all the law requires.

If the Florida employer has a written policy or past practive of paying earned vacation at termination, the Florida employee may — we stress may — have a winable case in small claims court. Otherwise, the employee is not entitled to any severance pay or payment in lieu of notice.

There is no requirement in Florida that any employer ever terminate an employee in writing. Simply telling the employee in person, by phone or email (yes, even IM or text message) is enough.

You may be confusing a letter of termination with a letter of recommendation. The latter is an open letter to future employers that extolls the employees strong points and highly recommends him or her. If the employee did and good job, it would be gracious to supply such a letter if requested.