Applicable Time Limits If you are the only worker being terminated, then you must be given at least 21 days to consider the agreement to waive your ADEA rights. If you are not the only worker being terminated, you must be given at least 45 days to consider the waiver.
California employers are required to give employees over 40 a minimum of 21 days to review a severance agreement. During this time, employees can seek advice from an attorney or financial advisor. Additionally, employees have 7 days after signing the agreement to revoke it.
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.
Employers who offer a severance agreement to induce you to waive your rights must follow special rules if you at least 40. Federal law requires these severance agreements to be clearly written and explicit. You must be given adequate time to review the agreement and cannot be pressured into signing it.
Regarding the revocation period, for employees under 40, California law does not mandate a revocation period for severance agreements. This contrasts with the requirements for older employees, where a revocation period must be offered.
For employees under 40: No specific waiting period is mandated by law.
A: In California, the seven-day revocation period is specifically related to settlement agreements that resolve claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) as part of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA).