Employers may provide severance packages for people who lose their jobs due to layoffs, mergers, or downsizing. In addition to compensation for lost wages, a severance package may include extended health benefits, payouts for accrued but unused vacation time, or job placement assistance.
Neither the California Labor Code nor the federal Fair Labor Standards Act require employers to offer severance agreements to departing employees. Instead, severance agreements are provided by employers to accomplish a specific goal.
Non-waivable claims: Certain claims, such as workers' compensation and unemployment insurance claims, cannot be waived by the employee. No prevailing party and attorney's fees: Ensure that the agreement does not include provisions that would allow either party to claim attorney's fees if legal disputes arise.
You have 60 days to enroll in COBRA once your employer-sponsored benefits end. Even if your enrollment is delayed, you will be covered by COBRA starting the day your prior coverage ended.
Present the employee with the severance agreement, worked on by your HR manager, and walk through each section. Leave time for the employee to ask questions and make clear the time frame during which the employee has time to meet with their lawyer, as well as their last day.
As an HR team, you should notify the employee of a time to meet face-to-face. During the meeting, you should clearly outline the reason for termination and get right to the point. Present the employee with the severance agreement, worked on by your HR manager, and walk through each section.
To increase your chances of a successful negotiation, choose a reasonable counter-offer. Think about the resources your former employers can offer and what you can offer in return. Employers usually do not want to engage in a lengthy negotiation, so presenting a reasonable offer may encourage them to accept to move on.