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Download the GuideIn Lithuania, companies must follow a standard procedure to properly dismiss an employee, which includes a grievance procedure, valid reason, notice and severance pay (if the employee is not at fault) according to tenure.
There are different types of dismissal:
The most common and preferred termination procedure is by mutual agreement, which should be concluded in writing and detail the terms and conditions agreed by the parties. If the termination is not done in writing, the employer bears the burden of proof in the event of a dispute. Employees should always be informed of the employment termination in writing, detailing the legal and factual reasons for the termination and the date it takes effect. If any dispute ever arises, the employer must have proof of the reason the employee was dismissed.
Termination must be documented and communicated in writing, including the length of the notice period to be served. Employers must inform SODRA of the employment termination by submitting the 2-SD form within one working day of termination. Employees should be paid for any outstanding remuneration and compensation for unused holidays, including severance, by the last day of employment. Delayed payments incur a daily interest equal to the employee’s proportionate average salary, to be awarded to the employee.
Employees who believe their rights have been violated can bring the case to the Labour Dispute Commission within three months (in case of wrongful suspension, termination — within one month). If the employer is found to not have followed the correct termination procedure, the employee may be awarded their remuneration for the entire period between dismissal and the court’s decision. If the court considers it reasonable, the employee may be reinstated at their previous job. In addition, they are also entitled to compensation for any non-economic damages. If the employee is not reinstated, they are entitled to one average monthly salary for every two years of continuous employment with the company, capped at six average monthly salaries.
The Lithuanian Labour Code sets out the disciplinary procedure that companies must follow before firing an employee. To be dismissed, the employee must have been guilty of repeated misconduct and have been previously issued a warning about it in the preceding year. Employers must act on it no later than one month after they are made aware of the misconduct and no later than six months after the misconduct takes place. In case the employee has made a gross breach of working duties, the employment contract can be terminated immediately (after the employee is given a possibility to explain the breach).
Companies dealing with disciplinary action should follow these steps:
The employee should be presented with warning letters. The letters should include the legal and factual reasons for dismissal and the date it takes effect.
There is no formal procedure for resignation. However, it is common for employees to first speak to their managers about their decision and then submit a dated letter restating their desire to leave the company. Employees must respect the notice period provided in the Labour Code (i.e., 20 calendar days), but they do not need to provide the company with their reason for leaving.
If the employee is resigning for an important reason, they need to notify the employer five working days in advance. According to the Labour Code, the employee is entitled to a severance payment in such a case.
Terminations are considered collective if the employer initiates dismissals, within any 30 days, of
Before the redundancy can take place, companies must consult with the employees’ representatives and inform the Employment Service office in writing about their plans to make employees redundant.
The standard notice period when terminating an agreement without an employee’s fault is one month. The notice period is shortened to two weeks for employees who have been employed for less than one year. Employees five years away from retirement age are entitled to a notice period of double the length.
The following categories of employees benefit from a notice period three times longer:
Fixed-term employees are entitled to a different notice period of five working days if they have been employed for one year, and ten working days if they have been employed for at least three years.
Employers and employees can agree to provide the employee with pay in lieu of serving their notice period.
Employees who are dismissed at no fault of their own by their employers or when the agreement is terminated by the employee due to important reasons are entitled to severance pay according to the length of employment:
When the employment contract is terminated based on the employer’s initiative and without the employee’s fault, the employee is also entitled to receiving a long-time employment benefit from SODRA. The benefit is calculated according to the employee’s terms of employment.
Fixed-term employees who have their employment terminated are entitled to one average monthly salary if they have been working for the company for at least two years.
When the employment agreement is terminated based on the employer’s will, the employee is entitled to a severance payment of their six monthly average salaries.
During the following circumstances, employers cannot fire employees of certain categories, except for gross misconduct:
Additionally, employees exercising their rights, such as being part of a trade union representative body, attending a case against the employer, filing a grievance against the employer or for discriminatory reasons, cannot be terminated based solely on these grounds.
Employees who lose their jobs may be entitled to the government’s unemployment benefit if they satisfy the following criteria:
The unemployment benefit is paid for up to nine months until the employee starts a new job. The allowance is made up of a fixed part and a variable sum. The fixed part is 23.27% of the minimum monthly wage (€241.65) plus the variable sum of 38.79% of the average monthly insured income of the individual for the first three months, 31.03% for the next three months, and 23.27% for the following three months. The benefit is capped at 58.18% of the average national wage.
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