I have a new job pretty much lined up, but I don't want to quit if there is a chance I can be laid off in the next few weeks and end up with severance. But my time to accept the offer is ticking away as well, so I'd probably have to start right after I was laid off. Would that affect severance in any way?
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I would go now as I don’t believe Norwalk will be funding additional 2019 layoffs in the US. The only ongoing trend for US will be rebadging staff as HCL and no severance if you don’t agree to the transfer.
i agree w/ -wul's comments. Especially in US. Get out now. Try to negotiate w/ new company for anything you nd immediately like healthcare or additional vacation. The worse they're gonna say is No, which is what you're telling yourself if you don't ask. No harm, no foul.
IF this is a job you want just go for it! If in the US- decide w/ help of a neutral financial planner what to do with any pension and 401k. Lots of concern about funding of pension that may force you to make a decision soon on this to get what you want vs. what's allowed to occur (lump vs annuity)
Good luck! stay positive.
The new severance package is not salary continuation. It's just a lump sum of anywhere from 2 to 16 weeks depending on what you do. Sales gets 2 weeks, highly technical people get 16 weeks, managers get 12 and Associates get 8. Everyone gets a whopping 2 weeks of healthcare if you get laid off no matter how many years of service and dedication you've given. You get the same at 30 years as someone that's been there 3 years now. Take the new job. See if you can adjust your start date to when you want. Also Cobra is a slow process so see if you can negotiate to buy into your new place if benefits don't start right away. In my experience at Xerox, layoffs often come at the end of a quarter because someone is trying to make the numbers look better than they are by cutting instead of increasing productivity. Someone gets fired or their job goes overseas to someone making 1/3 of what you made so someone further up can get a bonus for "cost savings." I'd say the severance is so small (for most people) that it's not worth sticking around for. I say if you've read all of the reviews at the new company, you have some idea of the corporate culture, the pay and benefits are good (and lets face it the benefits couldn't be much worse), then accept the job. Good luck.
It all depends on your personal circumstances. If you are still fairly young but you accumulated many years of service which translates to large severance payment (in some countries) then waiting for being laid off may make some sense. But these are a rare cases. I think in the US severance has been already reduced and it is not high at all. Therefore it makes sense to go for a new job. Personally I would not waste such an opportunity if working in the US. In other countries local circumstances might be different and therefore waiting for severance makes more sense.
If you start a new job the day after being laid off with severance, the severance is not affected. Two of my coworkers knew a layoff was coming and had jobs lined up. They were laid off on Thursday and both started new jobs the following Monday. Both received full severance.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. If it's a job you want, take it, don't worry about not getting the severance, as that is no longer worth what it used to be if you are a long term employee.