I know it's all supposed to be confidential, but has anyone heard of anyone successfully fighting SLB for more severance? Just wondering if it's been done in the last 6 years.
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Just to let you know Canadians laid off by Schlumberger get more of a payout than US workers.
The severance formula:
1) is spelled out in the employee handbook... it's not a secret.
2) is non-negotiable.
3) if someone told you they sued for more, they're lying to you.
Source: Me, current employee in the legal dept.
How long did it take to get your severance? I am coming up on a month without mine, typical SLB...
Does anybody know the years of service/severance formula?
Choices are either a year for pay or only a number of months of pay based on your years of service.
The 1 year deal was the best you could get, if you were offered it.
Hire a lawyer and if you think you have any legal claims, tell your lawyer and send over your documentation (you'd better have documentation, by the way).
If they think you'll sue them even if unable to prevail, they won't want to spend money defending it. Better yet, advise them you may just go to court pro se! They know it will waste so much of their time that they may just offer to settle up front by severance now rather than by possible settlement later!
If you do not have the language modified by an attorney, you are giving up too much. It'll be totally lop sided consideration.
HIRE A LAWYER. Ask for at least the lawyer's flat base rate fee to be reimbursed, maybe, but never go contract modification alone.
Call NELA or the State Bar Association
Yes, I know one person that successfully done this. He used a lawyer and got even more than they were asking for and then some.
If the company tries to bully or swindle you find the meanest SOB plantiff employment attorney and if he will take your case on a contingency basis go for it. What do you have to lose?
Get a lawyer and he/she gets 30%. So it better be worth it.
State law says that they must pay what it says in the employee handbook. If you fight for more and get it, good on you!
Considering they are not obligated to give any severance are all, good luck with that. I was grateful for what they gave me.