Terminating an employment contract in Romania when the employee is at fault

An employer in Romania can terminate an employee's contract in certain circumstances relating to the employee's behavior or performance.

These circumstances include breeches against the Internal Rules of the company or employment contract. The following is a list of common offenses:

• the employee does not meet the work schedule;
• the employee is absent from work with no explanation;
• the employee drinks alcoholic beverages during work hours;
• the employee supplies confidential information to third parties;
• the employee destroys company property.

In each of the above situations, the employment contract of the offending employee is suspended and the employer must conduct a disciplinary investigation. Once this is concluded, the employer can decide to dismiss the employee (effective the day the decision is taken), or if the reasons for discipline do not result in their termination, the employer may choose to sanction the employee with a demotion or by lowering the salary for a period of three months.

If the employer choses to terminate the contract, the employee is not entitled to payment for a notice period. Additionally, during the disciplinairy investigation, the employment contract is suspended and the employee is not paid.