Have any non-executives and non-management who have been RIFed successfully negotiated their severance?
I also read comments here stating RIFed employees must sign an NDA. Is it worth having an attorney read prior to signing?
11 replies (most recent on top)
I didn't bother having lawyer look at it, its been gone over by corporate lawyers and no one is ever able to get something better... unless you are maybe a C-suite person.
I didn’t question my severance because I was aware of the policy that stated the number of months of pay. How could I fight what’s already documented policy?
I got 6 months (over 25 years) and policy said that’s what it is.
If I remember correctly, it was not an "NDA" in what people typically think of. There was, however, a lot spelled out in legalese. There are restrictions, especially if you are in a state that has supplemental unemployment (they pay your severance- your unemployment benefit over a period of time based on years of service). It does say that you can consult a lawyer, but if you do not sign and send it back before the deadline, you get nothing and there really is no negotiation. They are also big on reminding you about Ethics and Compliance, basically saying that if you believe you were let go because of it or were witness to shady sh!T, you better report it now and not be speaking about it later. They hang the money/benefits over your head; at the time of RIF you are the most vulnerable, they know that. Most people just want to get everything they can out of them at that point and get on with their life.
Definitely have a lawyer look at it. While most states allow employers to let people go at-will, that does not mean you can't sue a company for wrongful termination. Had I not needed the money when I was RIF'd, I would have sued their A$$ off! Most states - other than Florida - will side with the employee if they can show that they were a good employee.
@df - word is, the NDA's aren't legal anyway.
@dd It was not in our severance package and have no idea why it wasn't included.
@dc - why weren't so many of you not required to sign the NDA when so many were? Please explain.
I did not have to sign an NDA and neither the the other 100+ associates in the department
There is no negotiating severance...period... You can try but "good luck". Its spelled out so just search Pulse and you can find all the information. Save your lawyer money.
You won't be given the time to get an attorney and if you somehow do it won't matter - sign it or don't -
Not really. This company has their a-s covered. Unless you have money to burn.