Severance packages are typically offered to executives and employees who are laid off due to downsizing or restructuring. They are not usually offered to people who resign or who are fired for poor performance or other causes.
Lack of Voluntary Consent: Under California law, a severance agreement can be considered valid and enforceable only if the parties entered into it voluntarily. If your consent was obtained through coercion, duress, or fraud, the agreement will be deemed invalid.
The downside to severance includes financial drawbacks such as loss of steady income, potential loss of benefits, and uncertainty about future job prospects, as well as the impact on retirement savings and benefits.
Severance is never a requirement of any employer unless you have a signed employment agreement stating otherwise, or, it is a written policy of the company.