A severance package can soften the blow of losing your job, but you shouldn’t automatically accept whatever your employer offers. There may be clauses that work against your interests or provisions designed to protect your former employer, not you. Here are a few reasons to have a lawyer review the offer before you sign anything.

Why an Attorney Should Review Your Severance Package

1. Receive Adequate Compensation

Employers aren’t motivated to provide fair compensation for your services. Their goal is to ensure you’re paid as little as possible, so their initial offer will likely be low. 

Many employees don’t know that they can negotiate severance pay, potentially increasing the amount by thousands of dollars. An employment lawyer can help decide whether you should press for a higher amount.

2. Protect Your Job Opportunities

Your severance package should provide a financial cushion while you look for another job, but some contracts can actually work against you. An employer might include a non-compete agreement forbidding you to work in the same industry for a certain period of time.

These provisions can seriously hamper your career and your economic prospects. A lawyer can identify these dangerous clauses and help you avoid signing away future job opportunities.

3. Preserve Your Right to Legal Action

Severance agreements also usually include a provision surrendering your right to sue your employer for anything that happened during the course of your employment. Your agreement may also require future claims to be settled in arbitration, which is normally tilted in favor of employers.

If you’ve been the victim of workplace harassment or targeted for reporting illegal activity, releasing your employer from liability can be a major error. A lawyer can help you understand the severance agreement to ensure these releases are in your best interests.

For over a century, The Law Offices of Bromm, Lindahl, Freeman-Caddy & Lausterer has been helping employees throughout the Wahoo, NE, area protect their rights. They’re committed to giving every client the personal attention they deserve, continuously providing a level of service that has earned them an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating a law firm can achieve. Visit their website for more on their employment law services, or call (402) 443-3225 to speak with a lawyer today.