Offered termination by mutual consent in Bulgaria? What to check

First identify the document

A proposal for mutual termination, notice and a dismissal order are different documents. If you receive a draft, ask for a copy and read the stated legal ground. An oral explanation that this is the standard procedure is not enough.

Under Article 325(1)(1) of the Bulgarian Labour Code, mutual consent must be in writing. The law provides seven days to respond to the received proposal; silence means it has not been accepted. This is not a general cooling-off period automatically undoing consent already given.

Do not confuse mutual consent with Article 331

Ordinary termination by mutual consent does not by itself create an entitlement to four salaries. Article 331 provides a separate employer-initiated termination mechanism in exchange for compensation, with its own conditions and a statutory minimum.

Check the precise ground, agreed amount and payment deadline. Do not assume an oral promise appears in the document. Distinguish agreed compensation from outstanding salary and compensation for unused leave.

What are you receiving and signing in return?

List the final salary, unused leave, additional agreed payments, due dates and deductions. Review any declarations that all matters have been settled and any other accompanying documents.

Illustrative example: the employee hears an offer of several months’ pay, but the draft records only the termination date. The amount, legal basis and payment deadline need to be clarified before signing.

Check unemployment benefit consequences too

The National Social Security Institute describes special rules on minimum benefit and duration for certain termination grounds involving the employee’s wishes or consent, and for other situations. Entitlement, amount and duration also depend on insurance history. Do not assess them solely by the employer’s offered payment.

Prepare the employment contract, amendments, proposal and information about the agreed sums. If a termination document has already been served, seek advice promptly: employment disputes have special time limits. The answer depends on the ground and the documents.