Understanding the Duration of the Offboarding Process for an Employee

As a Safeguard Global client, offboarding is a common process in the employee lifecycle. Here is some useful information on what you, our client, can expect as part of this process for offboarding employees within your organisation.

⏱️ Timeline for Voluntary End-of-Contract Termination

1. Advance Notice Period

• Many fixed-term contracts naturally end on the employee’s last date — no notice period is required if both parties (you the client, and the employee) knew the end date upfront.
• Some jurisdictions still require a formal notice letter (e.g., 2 weeks before the contract ends) even for natural contract expiry. Please check with your CSS if this is the case.

2. Preparation Phase (1–2 weeks before last day)

• Safeguard Global Guardians drafts and issues the end-of-contract confirmation letter.
• Safeguard Global's Payroll team prepares the final payout (salary, unused vacation days, bonuses if applicable).
• You, the client, arrange return of company property and system access shutoff.
• Any required government notifications are prepped.

3. Last Working Day (contract end date)

  Employment legally ends on the employee’s expiration date.
  Guardian ensures statutory deregistrations (tax, social security, benefits).
  You the client ensure IT and access are cut off.

4. Post-Termination Wrap-Up (within 0–30 days)

• Final payroll is processed by Safeguard Global (timing depends on local law — sometimes final pay must be given on the last day, sometimes it can follow in the next pay cycle).
• Safeguard Global's Guardian issues tax documents, employment certificates, or reference letters.
    Records are archived.

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## ✅ Typical Duration

Simple voluntary contract end (no renewal, no dispute):
 → Around 2–4 weeks of preparation + wrap-up.
 → But it’s anchored on the your employee's scheduled last day.

If notice is required (e.g., law says 2 weeks before expiry):
 → Offboarding prep starts earlier, but still closes on your employee's scheduled last contract date.

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👉 In practice: the Guardian’s admin work (letters, payroll calc, deregistrations) is usually done within 1–2 weeks.