A separation agreement (also commonly referred to as a severance agreement) between an employer and a departing employee specifying terms of the employee's separation from employment, including a release of legal claims against the employer in exchange for a benefit. This Standard Document is drafted in favor of the employer and has integrated notes with important explanations and drafting tips. This Standard Document is based on federal law, but can be customized for state law compliance by incorporating state-specific clauses (see Drafting Note, Links to State-Specific Clauses). For more information on state law requirements, see Employment Claims in Release Agreements: State Q&A Tool and State Employment Litigation and Arbitration Toolkit. For a short-form separation agreement, see Standard Document, Separation and Release of Claims Agreement (Short-Form).