I am getting 22 weeks of severance and I don’t want to lose it. However I may have the ability to come back and am in interviews next week. My last day is 2-6-26. If I ask this new division to wait until the 7 days after I sign my severance to offer me the job, can I keep the severance? I need to work but don’t want to lose the money.
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@1qy what was your outcome? Did you keep your severance package?
@m2 when you say 14th day was that the offer day or when you started again? I may be in a similar situation. My last day was 2/6 but I’m interviewing internally and if offered the position was told it would start by end of month possibly starting on 2/23.
@OP you have to carefully read your email. We had different employees rif’d from the same team at different times 2 years ago. One email stated they lose severance if they are offered an internal position. The other person’s email who was let go 8 mos later indicated they’d lose severance if they took another position.
@m2 Would you be able to share a timeline on how you managed that? I know we are instructed to not sign the severance agreement until after our last day of employment so did you apply during the last two weeks or did you start applying after? Just trying to line up the time line appropriately if possible
I was laid off in 24. I signed my severance agreement and then got an internal position on the 14th day of separation. I was allowed to keep the severance, and my original hire date (so same PTO accumulation, etc) however my severance years start over, so no more severance until I hit the minimum threshold of accrued service again. I threw the money into CDs for now in case I get caught in another mass layoff. The constant fear of dismissal for no reason is so disheartening.
This happen to me, kind of. I received my severance and then about a week later was offered a different position. I took the position and got to keep my severance. I also kept my years that I worked
The end goal is to secure a job. I would not ask them to hold the offer, as that is a significant red flag. If they offer you the job within 14 days of the separation date, you forfeit the severance.
@a3 as I understand it, you get severance or the internal position. I don't think you get to keep both.
It is addressed in your severance agreement, as well as the FAQs. However, and unfortunately, the information is different from document to document. One of those, and I can't remember which, I believe says that if it is not More than 20%.less then what you are currently making, you have to accept it and no severance will be paid. If you don't accept it, no severance will be paid. If you think about it, you may be offered a job before your last day and therefore you're not actually severed from the company and thus are not entitled to a severance. Where I think it gets tricky is whether you want to remain a candidate and be faced with accepting a job that may be a pay cut.
If you want to keep your severance, apply to zero internal roles. I am talking, period. Until those roles formally close they could randomly decide to take you in that role to avoid paying a severance. Then you could be stuck in a role you are not really qualified for and drown there gaining irrelevant experience for your resume and disqualifying you from a competitive role elsewhere due to pivoting to irrelevant work.
@OP my understanding is if offered the internal job and whether you take it or even decline you lose the severance
If hired within two weeks of your termination date, the Employee center will open up a case and it will be based on their discretion for you to keep or forfeit your severance. At least this is what they told me when I inquired.
@a1 it’s a tough call for sure. Thank you!
I caught a layoff and then was picked up by another group. My understanding is, generally, HR promotes you as a candidate of interest because you're due a big severance.
I never got internal interviews before my layoff. After my layoff, almost every job I applied for called me.
I surrendered the severance to stay employed, and considering how the job market is today, I would definitely keep the employment if I were you. Asking them to hold off will likely cost you the job.
It su-ks that's the case, but it's what I've found to be true.