What Is the New Law for Severance Agreements in California? California's “Silenced No More Act” began in January 2022 and impacted severance agreements by prohibiting employers from including non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses where it relates to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.
The new rule mandates that businesses inform their employees that they have at least five days to review any separation or severance arrangements.
Most termination clauses are an agreement between the employer and the employee that in the event the employer elects to dismiss the employee without cause, the employee will only receive what they are entitled to under the Employment Standards Code.
How to Structure a Severance Agreement Determine Eligibility: Decide which employees will be offered a severance agreement based on company policy or specific circumstances. Consult Legal Counsel: Work with an attorney to draft the agreement to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.
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.
On February 21, 2023, the NLRB issued a decision stating that the language of typical Confidentiality Clauses and Non-disparagement Clauses are illegal because they infringe on an employee's right to organize (form a union) or help other employees organize.