Skip to main content

Exit negotiations

Plenty of employment disputes never reach a tribunal. They end in a negotiated exit, usually through a settlement agreement, and the outcome depends far more on preparation than on argument. These guides cover how those conversations start, what a protected conversation is, what without prejudice actually protects, and when either can lose that protection.

On the agreement itself, we go through the clauses that matter: the payment breakdown and which parts are taxable, the £30,000 threshold, notice and holiday pay, references, confidentiality and non derogatory terms, and restrictive covenants that follow you into your next job. A settlement agreement is only binding if you have taken independent legal advice, and your employer will normally contribute to that fee, which is worth knowing before you agree anything.

Above all, treat the first offer as an opening position. Knowing the value of the claim you are giving up is what changes the number.

Exit negotiations

Negotiating a better settlement agreement

How to negotiate a better settlement agreement: valuing your claims, building leverage, what to ask for beyond money, and the risks of pushing too hard.

Last reviewed October 2026
Exit negotiations

"Without prejudice": what it really means for you

What the without prejudice label does and does not do in settlement discussions, when it applies, and how it differs from a protected conversation at work.

Last reviewed August 2026
Exit negotiations

Garden leave: your rights explained

What garden leave means in practice, what you are paid, what you can and cannot do during it, and how it interacts with notice and restrictive covenants.

Last reviewed August 2026

Need more than a guide?

Free enquiry, matched with a specialist employment solicitor, usually within one working day.