Severance is 8 weeks + 2 weeks/year worked, upto max of 26 weeks.
Is the garden leave considered as the initial 8 weeks?
If not, max severance is 8 weeks of garden leave + 26 weeks of severance, right?
50 replies (most recent on top)
@th and I have 15 years tenure.
@OP I spoke with HR Director and was advised it's 26 weeks max. I thought it was 8 weeks plus the 26 but was advised it is just the 26... since I'm employed through April 2nd I'm guessing that 8 weeks was wrapped up in that.
For those who are wonder, the folks that get the 8 weeks of Garden Leave + 26 weeks of Salary Replacement, that will take you to roughly September 1.
@j8 AND the company won't round up, so if you're 6 mos. from 20 like me, you get sc--wd.
We keep going back n forth on what it means
@j4 The 26 week cap is AFTER separation date. It does not include garden leave time. So after separation date, you get 8 weeks salary plus 2 weeks of pay for each year (it’s these salary weeks post separation date that max out at 26 weeks). So 26 weeks means 9 years tenure. You’ll only get extra salary percentage for 20+ years tenure.
@gr Did you receive a package and know this to be true? The online FAQs do not make it clear what the 26 weeks actually are.
@f7 it’s separate. You remain on payroll and receive your rate of pay until your separation date. That’s the “garden leave” or WARN period. Once you’re separation date is over and you’ve signed and submitted your severance offer, you will typically receive your severance within 30 days. For a 13 year employee that would be 26 weeks of pay post separation date.
@fv garden leave is a term used for when you are relieved of duties but still remain on payroll. Popular term in the tech industry that originated in the UK alluding to you have time to tend to your garden instead of working.
@g0 turn your computer on and read the severance document on pulse
For 20+ years layoff employee , what does the lump sum on top of 26 weeks mean?
@fx If you get cut, you'll find out. It's all calculated in the separation agreement.
@fx wrong information. 2025 bonus paid 100%. 2026 bonus prorated only till April 2, the separation date till which you are an employee.
@ft The bonus should be prorated as long as you are being paid severance. So if 4/2 is the last day and max severance runs until 10/2 (6 months severance), then the 2026 bonus should be paid out at 9/12ths or 75% of the annual bonus.
@fv Garden leave is the time between the date of notification and the date if separation. During this time, you’re still a T-Mobile employee (pay and benefits as usual), but no access to systems, no work, return laptop, etc. “Garden leave” is just the term for this period you’re still a T-Mobile employee. Severance kicks in after separation date.
@fq There is no garden leave. There is only the WARN act which is 8 weeks and severance, which is 2 weeks for every year maxed out at 26 weeks. Not sure why people keep talking about garden leave.
2025 bonus is paid out for sure but do we get bonus for 2026 prorated (3 months)?
If garden leave is not part of the 26 weeks of max severance then the packages are even more generous than I expected. 8 months of severance plus 100% bonus and next stock vesting for an employee with 9+ years tenure?? That’s incredibly generous
I was correct then
9 year tenure
8 weeks + 18 weeks = 26 weeks
19 year tenure would be the same bc it maxes out at 26 weeks
20+ years get the lump sum on top of 26 weeks
If you want to count the garden leave, it would add another 8 weeks.
A maximum of 26 weeks are after the separation date which has been reported to be April 2 for last weeks layoffs. The 26 weeks are part of the severance. You are still employed till the separation date. There is nothing beyond 26 weeks after separation date!
@fe So you dont know either. We need someone who has actually been given a package to clear up what the 26 weeks really means (assuming they had at least 13 years in).
T-Mobile HR...please feel free to weigh in since the FAQs do not make this clear.
WARN period you are still employed, so not counted
but the other part 8 weeks + 2 weeks/year upto max of 26 weeks
is it 8 + 26 = 34 max
or 8 + 18 = 26 max
@fc It sounds like no one really knows if the 8 weeks WARN is part of the 26 weeks, or separate. The way it is written in the severance FAQS...it is NOT clear what the 26 week max definition really is.
Would someone who has been impacted in January and actually knows, please weigh in. Thx!
9 year tenure
8 weeks + 18 weeks = 26 weeks
19 year tenure would be the same bc it maxes out at 26 weeks
20+ years get the lump sum on top of 26 weeks
If you want to count the garden leave, it would add another 8 weeks
This is my understanding.
@fa Where are you getting 35 weeks? 26 weeks severance + 8 weeks WARN = 34 weeks.
Unless people are adding an extra week (or whatever it actually is) to get to the 4/2 date. It appears everyone impacted in January's layoff (regardless of day they are notified) are getting a 4/2 official last day, which is more than 8 weeks WARN, as of now.
@b8 everything I’ve seen is 35 weeks max.
@bc how do? 2 weeks of severance per year for 9 years would be 18 weeks of pay and 19 years would get you the max, 35 weeks. What am I missing?
@en and pay more.
Can someone who has been laid off with at least 13 years of service, please answer the question. Were you given 26 weeks of severance starting after 4/2? People are trying to understand if the 8 weeks of WARN is part of the 26 weeks or separate. The information online says 26 weeks max.
I know this sounds weird but I am glad that I not the only one who found the language a bit vague and open to interpretation. I have never been laid off so this was new for me. In addition the education aspect. If education is paid for two years after being laid off who signs off every five weeks?
@b0 the severance documents were updated 1/15/2026
At least once you get severed you can take your phone to VZ and get out of the John Saw kingdom.
severance for 9 years and 19 years tenure is the same
So wait can we summarize? garden pay through April 1 or so; 2 weeks for each year worked AND the 8 weeks? Or is the garden pay the 8 weeks? Still can’t figure that out based on the two threads?
@b8 Won't correct you even though you're wrong because the people on this site seem to tear down 3 posts out of 54 no reason at all.
@OP someone correct me if I'm wrong, but severance was 2 week for each year up to 20 years = 40 weeks.
Now the max is 26 weeks???
@ac i found a doc updated 1/3/26...
@b0 the doc i found on pulse yesterday was updated 1/3/26....
Curiously, it mentioned nothing about a 20% aluminum discount... just that the employee discount ends at the next billing cycle.
which really su-ks because along with everything else, suddenly you could have a wireless bill that's $200+ more...while you're already worried about paying the bills.
they should let the employee discount continue for the full severance period, then transition to 20% alumni/insider.
come on deann! i know you're reading this.
That document doesnt mention garden leave. Hence the confusion abt 8 weeks/garden leave.
@OP go to Magenta Pulse and search for the word 'severance'. It will take you to another internal site where you can download a PDF of the package.
The PDF was last updated in 2023.
I wonder if the severance terms will be changed after 2026 Q1 and become less generous. TBD.