A Severance Lawyer Can Help You Get a Better Package

First, Find Out if You Have a Case

Severance agreements are written with the employer’s best interests in mind — not yours.

A severance lawyer may be able to negotiate a better deal for you, as many employers are more willing to negotiate once you get a lawyer involved.

Our Dallas severance attorneys will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your situation, determine whether what you were offered is fair, and aggressively negotiate for a better severance package

Here’s Your Action Plan:

Take your time before your sign. Review the package in detail, analyze the offer, and negotiate or retain a lawyer to assist you. If you are over 40, employers are required to allow you a minimum of 21 days to consider the offer. You need to fully understand the agreement, weigh your options, and decide whether to negotiate for better terms.

 Locate relevant documentation (your original offer letter; employee handbook;, information on the company severance plan; emails concerning issues that may be grounds to claim wrongful termination or unfair treatment; documentation of your health and disability insurance, retiree medical benefits, vacation time, compensation, and stock options; non-compete, intellectual property inventions, non-disclosure, and mandatory arbitration agreements). This will help determine exactly what has been offered to you, what has been left out, and whether you can improve your severance through negotiation.

If you were terminated because you belong to a protected class, due to an illness or disability, as a matter of retaliation, or in violation of a written or implied contract, you may have grounds to claim wrongful termination or to negotiate a better severance package. If you sign a severance agreement without negotiation, you likely will be giving away these rights forever.

Most of the time, severance agreements are negotiable, but in some situations, an employer may be able to revoke an offer of severance if you reject the offer. You will never know whether your employer will negotiate unless you ask.

The most common terms to negotiate include total compensation (cash, bonuses, stock options, unused vacation time, etc.), insurance coverage, disability benefits, letters of recommendation or a favorable statement regarding your “voluntary separation,” outplacement assistance, your ability to exercise stock options, and terms of or release from any non-compete.

Often an experienced lawyer can help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your situation. Further, a lawyer may be able to negotiate a better deal for you as many employers are more willing to negotiate once you get a lawyer involved.

An Experienced Severance Attorney Can Help

Jackson Spencer Severance Action Plan

Agreement Review

A word-for-word explanation of the agreement to make sure you understand the terms and implications of what you were offered. We will suggest revisions to the agreement to insure you (a) receive the best package possible, and (b) are not saddled with onerous requirements that could make it difficult to get a new job.

Circumstances Review

A review of the circumstances of your employment and termination. We can often find ways for you to get a better severance package.

Individualized Plan

An individualized plan reflecting your particular circumstances, leverage, and negotiation needs – including advice on how to potentially obtain more money.

Employer Negotiation

We will negotiate directly with your employer to enhance the severance package. It is often quite helpful to have an experienced severance attorney negotiate on your behalf to demonstrate that you are serious about getting a fair package.

How can we help?

Tell us more about your workplace experience 
so we can help determine if you have a case.

Our Attorneys

Fighting for Employees in Texas | Experienced. Knowledgable. Caring.

The attorneys at Jackson Spencer Law are here for you.  We know the law — and we know the rights and protections that employers owe to their workers. Whether it’s negotiating a severance package or a settlement with an employer, navigating the complexities of a whistleblower case, or taking a discrimination lawsuit to court — let our Texas legal team go to work for you.

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