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.
In Virginia, a severance agreement is a contract between an employee and an employer that specifies the terms of an employment departure. Severance agreements can be offered in cases of terminations, resignations, layoffs and/or retirement. They may be available in other types of situations as well.
Fraud, misrepresentation, duress, or unconscionability are common defenses you can use if you want to void a severance agreement that you already signed.
You and your employer must follow certain legal formalities for a severance agreement to be enforceable. You must ensure that the agreement is in writing and that your employer has signed it. Sometimes, you might also need a witness or have it notarized. Failing to adhere to these formalities can void the agreement.
Some factors that are often considered include length of employment at the company, your position or rank within the organization, salary, and individual circumstances relating to termination. Some employers adhere to a written contract or employment agreement or policy that was outlined previously.
Employers are generally required to provide an employee time to consider the Severance Agreement before signing. An employee usually has a 21-day consideration period to accept and at least a 7-day revocation period to revoke an employer's Severance Agreement if the employee is over 40 years of age.
Extension of Benefits Under Rule of 70 To be eligible to retire, you must be at least age 55 with 10 years of service or age 65. Years of service for the “Rule of 70” eligibility purposes, means total years of employment from date of hire to date of termination.
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.