Two questions about severance, US based. Assume your current position is being eliminated and you would be normally eligible for a special severance.
1) If you apply for a job, realize you do not want it and get an offer, do you forfeit severance?
2) If you apply for a job, realize you do not want it and withdraw your application before getting an offer, do you forfeit severance?
I think you forfeit it on 1, since an offer was extended, but I am not sure about 2, since no offer was extended.
Actually the severance is light. So, it does not matter. All you have to do is get decent employment lawyer and sue. They will settle for starting at 1/4 mil to avoid further cost and bad publicity. You likely have a long list of items to legit sue on, because most managers quite horrible at their jobs. The lawyer can help point them out.
Going by the book, you'd forfeit the severance if you applied, got placed, and backed out. It is possible at VP level to let someone off the hook and still give them severance -- it happened in the 2024 reorg. I wouldn't want to count on the generosity of a VP.
If you have an offer that you then turn down (no 1) then you have elected not to continue so no package, if you withdraw you application prior to getting and offer, there still isn’t an available alternative so Shell is now on the hook (eg there isn’t a way to stay that you have declined)
We saw severances in 2021 (P&T) that came after people had applied for jobs and not gotten them. No one backed out mid-process. At an earlier company, I was offered a severance when part of the plant shut down and was also offered a job to stay there. They gave me 2 days to decide because there was a #2 choice waiting in the wings if I had stayed. I sensibly took the severance and left. It was about 10 weeks pay, which is a lot for a younger employee.
I do not know how it is now, but I know when Convent was shutdown, you would forfeit for option 1, but not if you did option 2.