Offboarding

Offboarding is the process by which an organization manages the formal separation of an employee from its workforce. It encompasses administrative tasks, knowledge transfer, and the disengagement of access to company systems, while ensuring continuity of work and compliance with legal and policy requirements.

A typical offboarding program includes planning and communication, a handover of duties, documentation of work, completion of paperwork (final pay, benefits, benefits continuation), return of company property, IT deprovisioning and access removal, and an exit interview to capture feedback.

Key roles: human resources coordinate the process, the employee's manager oversees handover, IT and security revoke system access and recover devices, and legal/compliance monitors adherence to data privacy and contractual obligations.

Best practices include using a structured timeline and checklist, ensuring knowledge transfer through project documentation and, if needed, knowledge transfer sessions; protecting data and IP; complying with employment, tax, and privacy laws; and communicating respectfully with remaining staff and clients.

Outcomes and metrics: timely completion of tasks, complete handover, full return of equipment, revocation of access before or on the last day, successful final payroll and benefits processing, and feedback captured via exit interviews to inform process improvements.