Parting ways with an employer isn’t always a cut and dry process. Especially if you’ve invested years of your time and ideas to move the company forward. If you’ve recently been let go by your employer and are unsure how to proceed with the severance package you’re being offered, here are the top 5 things you should know about severance agreements and your options.
1. HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY REVIEW THE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
If you had a medical condition, you would seek the advice of a physician. The same logic should apply when you have a legal situation such as an impromptu termination where the employer provides a severance package. There is a direct correlation between retaining an employment attorney to negotiate your severance package and the amount of the increase in severance pay. I have seen many people over the last twenty years attempt to negotiate their severance agreements by themselves with little success in the way of increased severance. Employers simply say, œThis agreement is a take or leave it deal, when employees attempt to negotiate the agreement on their own. An employment attorney can dramatically modify an existing severance agreement to make the deal fair and balanced, including the removal of one-sided non-competition agreements. The employment lawyer can also increase severance pay by developing legal claims you did not know existed.
2. IF YOU WANT MORE MONEY, YOU NEED A LEGAL CLAIM
Face it, if you want more money in severance pay from your employer, you need to hire an employment lawyer. An employment attorney will review your detailed factual narrative and ask very pointed questions to develop legal claims that can be used to increase the amount of severance pay you will eventually receive. The employment lawyer can also diagnose the illegal activity committed by the employer and confront the employer with a sworn affidavit supporting a comprehensive notice of legal claims. When the employee substantiates his/her case in this manner, the employer often times increases the amount of severance pay the employee will receive under the severance agreement.
3. YOU CAN EXTEND COBRA COVERAGE
An employment attorney will often time the length of the severance pay with the length of the COBRA period. This is a routine provision that most employees do not know they can increase. In fact, you can obtain COBRA coverage for up to 18 months.
4. CONFIDENTIALITY IS KEY WITH SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS
When you receive severance compensation you provide a full release of claims against the employer that is completely confidential. Employers shield themselves against potential liability and publicity by using broad confidentiality provisions that cover you, your attorney, your financial advisor and your family. An employment attorney can narrow the confidentiality so that it is only applicable to you, relieving the unnecessary burden on your accountant, attorney and your family.
5. LEGAL FEES PAID BY THE EMPLOYER
The employer gave you the severance agreement to review with an attorney. Most employers include a provision that you acknowledge you have been given the opportunity to review the agreement with an attorney. Then, the employer must pay your legal fees to review their one-sided severance agreement. The agreement should be modified to include coverage for your legal fees.
Top Five Things to Know About Severance Agreements. If you’re looking to get the most out of your severance agreement and don’t know where to start, contact our employment attorneys in Connecticut and New York, Carey & Associates, P.C., we concentrate in employment, wrongful termination, discrimination, whistleblowing, and more. Get the severance you deserve.
