When can I terminate for cause without notice?

Termination "for cause" — ending the contract immediately, without notice or payment in lieu — is reserved for serious situations, and the bar is high on both sides.

For an EMPLOYER, summary dismissal may be justified when the helper, in relation to her employment, wilfully disobeys a lawful and reasonable order, is guilty of serious misconduct or fraud, or is habitually neglectful of her duties. It is the most severe disciplinary step and is NOT justified by one-off minor issues or general dissatisfaction.

For a HELPER, immediate resignation without notice may be justified where she is not paid her wages, suffers physical or verbal abuse, is required to live in unsafe conditions, or is made to perform work outside the ID 407 contract scope (for example working at another address).

Before acting, whichever side you are on: • Document everything — dates, messages, photos, witnesses, receipts • Get advice first — the Labour Department, or HelperDoc support, can tell you whether your grounds actually meet the threshold • Get the exit right — even a justified summary termination still requires settling outstanding wages, untaken annual leave and the return passage, and notifying the Immigration Department in writing within 7 days

A wrongly-claimed "for cause" termination can turn into a Labour Tribunal claim — when in doubt, use the normal notice route instead.