Termination of employment: What should you do in the first few days, and by when must you lodge an objection?

If you receive a notice of termination and consider it to be unjustified, you have 60 days to lodge an objection in writing. Once you have lodged your objection, you have 180 days to take the matter to court or apply for arbitration. These time limits are strict: once they have expired, the termination can no longer be challenged, even if it is unlawful.

The first few days

Keep the letter together with the envelope or the acknowledgement of receipt for the registered post. The date on which you received it marks the start of the 60-day period.

Then read it through carefully. As a general rule, notice of termination must be given in writing and must state the reasons for it. If either of these is missing, the notice is invalid.

Don’t forget about unemployment benefit. The application for NASpI must be submitted online to the INPS within 68 days of the end of your employment. It is advisable to do this within eight days: in that case, the benefit will start from the eighth day and you won’t lose out on any payments.

Seek advice from a solicitor before signing any agreements or waivers.

How and by when can you lodge an objection?

A letter signed by you, clearly stating that you are contesting the dismissal, is sufficient. It is advisable to send this by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt. The date on which you post it is decisive, not the date on which it is received by your employer.

However, this letter alone is not sufficient. Within 180 days of posting it, you must either file a claim with the court or ask your employer to attempt conciliation.

The 180-day period begins when the letter is posted, not when the 60-day period expires. If you lodge an objection after ten days, the remaining fifty days are not added to this period.

If you opt for conciliation, the time limits will vary depending on how the proceedings unfold. This is one of the stages where it is easiest to make mistakes: it is advisable to seek the assistance of a solicitor.

What if the notice of termination was only given verbally?

A notice of termination that has not been given in writing is invalid. Even in this case, you should not wait: lodge a written objection immediately and seek advice.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the time limit for lodging an objection to a notice of dismissal?

In writing, within 60 days of receiving the letter. Thereafter, the complaint must be lodged or an application for conciliation made within 180 days of the objection being sent.

Does the date on which I post the objection count, or the date on which it is received?

Count from the date you send it.

By when must the application for NASpI be submitted?

Within 68 days of the termination of the employment contract.

This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for advice in individual cases. Last updated: 21 October 2026.