Employee Exit Process: An Offboarding Checklist for Indian Companies

Step 1: Confirm the exit

• Acknowledge the resignation in writing and confirm the last working day under the notice policy.
• Inform the reporting manager, payroll and IT.
• Agree a handover plan and timeline.

Step 2: Knowledge handover

Document ongoing work, files, passwords stored in company systems, client contacts and pending approvals. Assign a successor and hold handover meetings. Store documents in shared company locations, not personal drives.

Step 3: Assets and access

• Recover laptops, phones, ID cards, keys, tools and uniforms against an asset list.
• Disable email, software and building access on the last day.
• Transfer ownership of shared files and accounts.
• Remind the employee of confidentiality obligations.

Access controls are part of good security practice; see ATTPL IT’s cybersecurity checklist.

Step 4: Exit interview

Ask about reasons for leaving, manager relationship, workload, growth and suggestions. Keep it confidential and look for patterns across exits. Track attrition reasons in HRMS reports and act on them.

Step 5: Settlement and documents

• Process full and final settlement: salary, leave encashment, bonus, gratuity where eligible, and recoveries.
• Guide the employee on PF transfer or withdrawal.
• Issue relieving and experience letters on time.
• Update records and remove the employee from payroll and statutory registers.

Gratuity rules are explained in our gratuity guide. Offboarding should mirror a good onboarding checklist.

Frequently asked questions