Layoffs and severance
Read it before you sign
A layoff comes with papers: a notice, a severance offer, a release, sometimes a deadline to sign. You're allowed to read it at home and to ask what you're giving up.
Many severance agreements ask you to give up claims in exchange for pay. We read them with you, explain the terms in plain words, in Spanish if you prefer, and tell you whether to sign, ask for more or walk away. Some layoffs and plant closings also call for advance notice, and we check whether yours did.
Severance and release agreements
Plant closings and mass layoffs
Final pay and unused vacation
Non-compete and non-disparagement clauses
What to look for in a notice
A notice that leaves these out is worth a second look.
The day your job ends
And whether it says layoff, termination or something else.
How final pay will arrive
Wages, unused vacation and any bonus you earned.
What happens to health coverage
When it stops and what it costs to keep it.
What you are asked to give up
A release can end claims you have not even thought of yet.
Short answers
How long do I have to sign a severance offer?
The offer should say. Some give days, some weeks. Ask in writing for more time if you need it, and don't let anyone rush you.
Can I negotiate severance?
Often an offer is a first position, not a final one. We can ask for more pay, a neutral reference or a narrower non-compete. We cannot promise what the employer will agree to.
Does a plant closing give me rights?
Larger employers may owe advance written notice before closing a site or laying off many people. We check the size, the dates and what you were told.
Bring the paper before you sign it.
We can read it with you, in English or Spanish.
Please don't send confidential details through the site.