Notice: two weeks or a month — and not while you are on leave

By Equipo Saplic Published on 12/08/2026 Updated on 12/08/2026

A small rule with real consequences for how a dismissal is timed.

For guidance only

The amounts and deadlines in this guide can change by law. Always check the update date and the official sources cited below. For a specific case, consult the labour authority or a professional.

In this guide
  1. Notice periods
  2. The rule about leave
  3. Payment in lieu
  4. The certificate of termination
  5. How employment can end
  6. Summary dismissal
  7. Unfair dismissal
  8. Sale of the business
  9. Probation
  10. Records

The Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act governs how employment ends in Guyana.

Notice periods

  • Less than one year of service: two weeks' notice
  • One year or more: one month's notice

Some guidance describes a wider range from one week to six weeks depending on service, so if your situation is borderline, confirm with the Ministry of Labour.

The rule about leave

This one is specific and useful: an employer cannot give notice of termination while an employee is on authorised leave.

If you received a termination notice during your annual leave, that is worth raising.

Payment in lieu

The Act provides for payment in lieu of notice as an alternative to working the notice period.

The certificate of termination

The Act requires a certificate of termination. Ask for it — it is your formal record of the ending and its stated basis.

How employment can end

Termination with notice can occur through mutual consent, redundancy, or for good and sufficient cause, requiring proper documentation.

The general procedure is: written notice, working through the notice period, and settling final payments.

Summary dismissal

Reserved for serious misconduct, allowing immediate termination. For less severe issues, employers must follow disciplinary procedures.

Unfair dismissal

Employees can challenge unfair dismissals. The Act provides for complaints of unfair dismissal and for referral to the Chief Labour Officer for determination.

Sale of the business

The Act deals with the effect of the sale of an employer's business. Where a successor employer agrees to honour the obligations of the previous employer, those obligations become binding on the successor.

That means a change of ownership does not automatically wipe your accrued entitlements.

Probation

Typically three months, though the duration can be adjusted if both parties agree.

Records

The Act requires records to be kept. Keep your own copies too — contract, payslips, and any notice or certificate received.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice am I owed?
Two weeks for less than one year of service and one month for a year or more, unless the contract specifies longer.
Can I be given notice while on leave?
No. An employer cannot give notice of termination while an employee is on authorised leave.
What is the certificate of termination?
A document the Act requires on termination. It is your formal record of the ending and its stated basis, so it is worth asking for.
What happens if the business is sold?
Where a successor employer agrees to honour the previous employer’s obligations, those obligations become binding on the successor. A change of ownership does not automatically wipe accrued entitlements.
How long is probation in Guyana?
Typically three months, though the duration can be adjusted if both parties agree.

Sources

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