Deed of Release for Employment - Template, Sample Form
✓ Valid in Australia
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DEED OF RELEASE
This Deed of Release ("this Deed") is dated this _____________________________
BETWEEN
________ (ACN ________)
of the following address:
________
("the Employer")
AND
________
of the following address:
________
("the Employee")
BACKGROUND
The Employee was employed by the Employer starting from ________ ("the Employment").
The Employment ended with the final day of the Employment being ________.
The Employment was terminated because the Employee's role within the Employer's business had become redundant.
The Employer and the Employee have chosen to enter this Deed in order to settle any and all claims arising out of the Employment and/or the termination of the Employment, on the terms set out in this Deed.
(1) DEFINITIONS
"Business Day" means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in New South Wales.
"Deed" means this Deed of Release.
"Deed Date" means _____________________________
"Employee" means ________.
"Employer" means ________.
"Employment" means the employment relationship between the Employee and the Employer under the Employment Agreement.
"Employment Agreement" means the employment agreement dated ________ between Employer and Employee.
"Parties" means parties to this Deed.
"Party" means a party to this Deed.
"Termination" means the termination of the Employment.
"Termination Date" means ________.
(2) INTERPRETATION
In this Deed, unless the context otherwise requires, the following rules of interpretation shall apply:
(a) Words referring to one gender include every other gender.
(b) Words referring to a singular number include the plural, and words referring to a plural include the singular.
(c) If a word or phrase is defined in this Deed then any grammatical variations of that word or phrase have a corresponding meaning.
(d) Words referring to a person or persons include firms, corporations, associations, partnerships, joint ventures, authorities, government bodies, organisations and other legal entities, and vice versa.
(e) Any reference to time is a reference to time in New South Wales.
(f) In the event that something must be done under this Deed on or before a particular date, if that date falls on a day which is not a business day, then that thing must be done on or before the next business day.
(g) Any obligation on a Party not to do something includes an obligation not to allow that thing to be done.
(h) Headings and titles are included in this Deed for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Deed.
(i) A reference to legislation or any part or provision of that legislation includes any subordinate legislation, any amended legislation, and any substituted legislation issued under that legislation.
(j) A reference to an agreement or document is a reference to that agreement or document as amended, replaced, supplemented or novated from time to time.
(k) A reference to a Party also includes that Party's successors, assigns, legal personal representatives and/or any person that is substituted by way of novation.
(l) Any reference to money or currency, unless otherwise specified, is a reference to Australian dollars.
(3) RELEASE
Except as otherwise required by law:
(4) PAYMENT
(a) In consideration for the release provided by the Employee under this Deed, the Employer agrees to pay the Employee as follows ("Payment(s)"):
________
(b) The Employer will make the Payment(s) to the Employee within 15 Business Days of the Deed Date.
(c) Any Payment(s) described under this clause are expressed as gross before tax amounts. The Employer will deduct any applicable taxes from the said Payment(s) and will pay the net after tax amount(s) to the Employee.
(5) EMPLOYMENT REFERENCE
In consideration for the release provided by the Employee under this Deed, the Employer hereby agrees to provide the Employee, within 15 Business Days of the Deed Date, with an employment reference. Such employment reference will outline the period of time that the Employee was employed with the Employer, the Employee's position with the Employer, and the Employee's duties for the Employer.
(6) JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE
In consideration for the release provided by the Employee under this Deed, the Employer hereby agrees to provide reasonable assistance to support the Employee in finding new employment.
(7) RETURN OF PROPERTY
Within 15 Business Days of the Deed Date, the Employee must return to the Employer any and all of the Employer's property.
(8) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees:
(9) BAR TO FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
The Parties hereby expressly agree that this Deed may be pleaded as a full and complete defence to any claims, debts, demands, suits, actions, proceedings or other liabilities that any other Party to this Deed may pursue at any time in relation to the Employment or the Termination.
(10) CONFIDENTIALITY
(a) Subject to this clause, the Parties hereby agree to keep the provisions of this Deed confidential.
(b) Notwithstanding the preceding sub-clause hereof, the Parties may disclose any details of this Deed ("Details"):
(I) to their respective legal or financial advisors ("Advisors") provided that the Party disclosing the Details to any such Advisors first ensures that those Advisors are legally bound to keep the Details confidential on terms at least as onerous as those contained in this Deed; or
(II) as otherwise required by law, by court order, or by the requirement of any stock exchange or regulatory authority.
(c) This clause will survive termination or expiration of this Deed.
(11) NON-DISPARAGEMENT
The Parties hereby agree that they will not, at any time, make or publish any statement, whether written or oral, that disparages, denigrates or otherwise reflects adversely upon the other Party or, in the case of the Employer, any of its officers, employees, directors, agents, contractors, assignees, successors or other representatives. This clause will survive termination or expiration of this Deed.
(12) NOTICES
(a) Any notice or other communication given under this Deed must be in writing and must be delivered personally, sent by pre-paid post or sent by email to the relevant Party at the address or email address last notified by that Party for the purposes of this Deed.
(b) A notice or other communication is taken to be received:
(I) if delivered personally, on the date of delivery;
(II) if sent by pre-paid post, on the third Business Day after the date of posting; or
(III) if sent by email, at the time the email is sent, provided that no delivery failure notification is received by the sender, and provided that if the email is sent after 5:00pm on a Business Day, or on a day that is not a Business Day, it is taken to be received on the next Business Day.
(13) LEGAL COSTS
Each Party must pay its own legal costs of and incidental to this Deed.
(14) GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) GOVERNING LAW: This Deed shall be governed in all respects by the laws of New South Wales and any applicable federal law. Both Parties consent to jurisdiction under the state and federal courts within New South Wales.
(b) LANGUAGE: All communications made or notices given pursuant to this Deed shall be in the English language.
(c) AMENDMENTS: This Deed may only be amended in writing signed by both Parties.
(d) RIGHTS, REMEDIES AND POWERS: Unless expressly provided in this Deed, any rights, remedies or powers which a Party acquires under this Deed are cumulative and apply in addition to any rights, remedies or powers which that Party may otherwise have. Unless expressly provided in this Deed, nothing in this Deed shall in any way reduce, extinguish, postpone, restrict or otherwise limit any right, remedy or power which that Party may have.
(e) SURVIVAL OF OBLIGATIONS: At the termination or expiration of this Deed, any provisions of this Deed which would by their nature be expected to survive termination or expiration shall remain in full force and effect, including but not limited to any provisions which are explicitly stated to survive termination and/or expiration.
(f) NO WAIVER: None of the powers or rights created under the terms of this Deed shall be deemed to have been waived by any act or acquiescence of either Party. A power or right under the terms of this Deed may only be waived in writing, signed by the Party that is waiving the said power or right. No waiver of any power or right under a term of this Deed shall constitute a waiver of any other power or right or of the same power or right on a future date. Failure of either Party to enforce any term of this Deed shall not constitute waiver of such term or any other term.
(g) SEVERABILITY: If any provision or term of this Deed is held to be unenforceable, then this Deed will be deemed amended to the extent necessary to render the otherwise unenforceable provision, and the rest of the Deed, valid and enforceable. If a court declines to amend this Deed as provided herein, the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Deed shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions, which shall be enforced as if the offending term or provision had not been included in this Deed.
(h) ENTIRE AGREEMENT: In relation to the subject matter of this Deed, this Deed constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous understandings, whether written or oral.
(i) COUNTERPARTS: This Deed may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall constitute a single agreement. If the dates set forth at the end of this document are different, this Deed is to be considered effective as of the date that both Parties have signed the agreement, which may be the later date.
(j) FORCE MAJEURE/EXCUSE: Neither Party is liable to the other for any failure to perform due to causes beyond its reasonable control including, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of civil authorities, acts of military authorities, riots, embargoes, acts of nature and natural disasters, and other acts which may be due to unforeseen circumstances.
(k) FURTHER ACTS: Each Party must, and must ensure that its directors, employees, officers, agents, representatives and contractors do all things and sign, execute and deliver all documents, agreements and instruments as reasonably required in order to give effect to this Deed and to the rights and obligations of the Parties created under this Deed.
EXECUTED AS A DEED THIS ________
Signed sealed and delivered by ________ in accordance with s127 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) by:
___________________________________
Signature of director
____________________________________
Name of director
___________________________________
Signature of director/secretary
____________________________________
Name of director/secretary
Signed Sealed and Delivered by ________:
____________________________________
________
In the presence of:
____________________________________
Witness Signature
____________________________________
Witness Name
____________________________________
Witness Occupation
____________________________________
____________________________________
Witness Address
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