Severance Negotiating

It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the severance provisions of your employee handbook. The employee handbook will notify you whether your employer offers severance pay and what pay and benefits you are potentially entitled to. Before beginning severance negotiations familiarize yourself with its terms, as there is no way to win an argument if you have no knowledge of the topic. By law, if you are over forty years of age, you must be given at least 21 days to consider signing the agreement.

Employees often believe they are able to negotiate a severance package without assistance. This is a common mistake as employees tend to underestimate their own value, are often unaware of their potential claims, and do not have the requisite experience to maximize their potential benefits. The New York severance lawyers at Fitapelli & Schaffer are seasoned negotiators who can assist you in understanding the terms of your current severance agreement and facilitate the award of greater money and/or benefits.

Know Your Rights

Severance negotiations begin with the employer making a low offer and the employee responding with a higher demand. Severance negotiations have several stages and the first step should be contacting the employment lawyers at Fitapelli & Schaffer, so that you are informed of your rights. Many employees are unaware that they may have valid claims for employment discrimination, harassment or unpaid wages. By signing a severance agreement without fully knowing all of your rights, you risk a potentially lucrative settlement in exchange for a small amount of pay.