Ensuring Proper Resignation of a Bank Employee

The year 2023 began with a success story for Labor Initiatives (LI) lawyers, who helped protect the rights of a single mother working at a private commercial bank. The case was resolved through a pre-trial settlement, which is particularly important in wartime conditions when many workers face restricted access to courts and state institutions.

The employee—a single mother raising a 9-year-old son—needed to resign promptly for family-related reasons. However, the employer refused to accept her resignation, citing the imposition of martial law in Ukraine as justification.

LI lawyers prepared legal explanations for the employer, emphasizing that martial law is not a valid reason to deny an employee’s right to resign. They also drafted appeals to the State Labor Service and prepared a lawsuit, which the employee presented to the employer as evidence of her readiness to take legal action.

As a result, the employer agreed to terminate the employment by mutual consent and paid the worker severance in the amount of one average monthly salary—UAH 9,000 (approximately $250).