What is the downside to severance? 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.
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.
“If any term of this Agreement is to any extent invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, such term shall be excluded to the extent of such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability; all other terms hereof shall remain in full force and effect.”
Keep it professional. Use business reasons, such as your performance record or time with the company, when negotiating the terms of your severance package rather than personal details, such as having a baby or buying a house. Be wary of non-compete clauses.
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.
Federal courts usually have held that the company retains its right, under the common law governing formation of contracts, to revoke an offer of a severance agreement during the 21 day review period mandated by the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act.
If you're under 40, you get five days to review a severance agreement. If you're over 40, you get 21 days. #EmploymentLawyer #California.
You must be given at least 21 days to review a severance document under the circumstances, or 45 days if the terms of a severance package impact an entire class of employees.
Keep it friendly. Don't hint that you may sue or are looking to make their lives difficult. Respond to the severance email or reach out to HR directly saying you'd like to discuss the severance agreement. Come prepared with research.
Federally regulated employers found to have unjustly dismissed their employees may be ordered to reinstate and/or compensate the affected employees. Affected employees who believe they have been unjustly dismissed can file an unjust dismissal complaint with the Labour Program.