Need Legal Help Negotiating a Severance Offer?
Philadelphia Area Law Firm Negotiates Severance Packages on a Contingent Fee Basis
Philadelphia Area Law Firm Negotiates Severance Packages on a Contingent Fee Basis
Philadelphia area employment
lawyer John
A. Gallagher represents Pennsylvania
employees located in towns such as Philadelphia, Rosemont,
Narberth, Levittown, Limerick, Gulph Mills, Swarthmore, Bristol and
Broomall sue
for Unpaid Overtime.
Located
in Chester County, Mr. Gallagher prosecutes claims
for unpaid wages, compensation, benefits, vacation pay, commissions, bonuses
and/or severance on a Contingent
Fee basis.
Wondering About Severance and Pennsylvania Unemployment? Click Here.
NOTE: This Article was initially posted in one piece. Realizing it was far too long, I have broken it into 2 parts.
This part discusses what I refer to as "mandatory" severance offers. Click Here to jump to the second part, which discusses what I refer to as "voluntary" severance offers.
Understanding and Negotiating Severance - Key Things to Bear in Mind Concerning Your Rights When Offered Severance
In general, there are two types of severance packages: Those that are required under the law, a contract or a company policy, and those that are made voluntarily for any one of a number of reasons.
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Is Your Severance a Product of Good Will or Legal Obligation? |
This Post, while certainly not exhaustive, addresses the most common scenarios, approaches and considerations that I have learned about mandatory severance since I started practicing law in 1991.
Why it is Important to Understand the Employment "At-Will" Principle When Considering a Severance Offer
Most Americans are employed "at-will." That means they have no right to any sort of "due process" in connection with any decision made by the company to terminate their employment. If you are "at will," your severance offer is most likely voluntary.
However, certain employees, who are not employed purely "at will," have a right to severance under certain circumstances. In such cases, the company may be required to offer severance.
WHEN IS SEVERANCE MANDATORY?
What Kind of Workers Are Not Employed "At Will"?
There are some well-defined exceptions to the "at will" principle; if you fall into any of these, the severance offer is likely mandatory.
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Mr. Hoffa Was Not a Fan of the At Will Doctrine |
Certain Employees of State and Federal Governments: Many state and federal employees are deemed to have a "property right" to continued employment, and thus can only be fired if the governmental employer has followed well-defined pre-termination protocols (i.e. progressive discipline accompanied by an informal hearing) and has demonstrated "good cause" for the termination decision.
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Do You Have a Written Contract Promising Severance? |
Employees falling within any of the above categories often have a defined right to a specific amount of severance, provided they do not quit and/or are not fired "for cause." This would be spelled out in your Union contract, or in the government's handbook or in the actual written contract between you and the company.
So, for example, someone subjected to a layoff by a Union of the government will get X weeks/months/years' of severance pay per Y weeks/months/years' of services.
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Few of US Have Guaranteed Contracts Like Chip! |
So, if you fall into any one of the above-categories, you should examine anything in writing that defines your right to severance in the course of considering whether to accept or attempt to negotiate the severance offer.
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ERISA Plans=Complicated |
Employees covered by ERISA Plans. In addition to the above-referenced
employee groups, there exists another segment of workers who have a right to severance (provided they do not quit and/or are not fired "for cause").
This segment is comprised of employees who work for large or well-endowed companies who have a benefit plan covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"). If you are employed by a company with such a Plan, chances are you are entitled to severance if your job is terminated through no fault of your own.
For ERISA-covered employees, you will be able to determine your rights concerning severance by examining the company's benefit plan. Such plans are often referred to as "Retirement Plans," "Pension Plans" or "Benefit Plans," and are usually made available for review on the company's website. You may also have been provided a "Summary Plan Description" ("SPD"), which provides highlights concerning your right to pension, medical benefits, severance, etc.
NOTE: Many times, employees are unaware of the existence of an ERISA Plan, much less the terms thereof. This can really become a problem if, in connection with termination, the employee is locked out" of the company's computer system, making retrieval of the necessary documents impossible. It is best to determine while employed whether you are the beneficiary of such a Plan, and to download all available documentation relating thereto while employed.
So, if you are a participant in an ERISA Plan, you should examine the SPD and Plan documents in the course of considering whether to accept or attempt to negotiate the severance offer. Bear in mind, though, that ERISA is among the most complicated laws in all the land, so seeking legal advice to assist in your understanding is often necessary/desirable.
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May Be Required Reading |
Once again, if your employer has such a written policy, you would be well-served to read and understand it in the course of contemplating the severance offer on the table.
NOTE: As explained in my NOTE on ERISA Plans, above, you would be well-served to download all relevant company materials prior to termination.
Mandatory Severance Offers, What to Look For - the Release
If you fall into any of the categories I discussed above, there is a good chance that the company is offering you severance because it is required to do so.
In such cases, you will likely have to sign a "Release" in exchange for the severance; however, you should check any written documents regarding severance to see if, indeed, you are required to sign a Release in exchange for the severance payment.
Does Your Severance Offer Included Accrued Sick and Vacation Time?
Otherwise, the things to look for, where mandatory severance offers are concerned, is whether the company is paying to you everything else it is required to pay you, such as accrued but unused
vacation pay, unused sick time, expense reimbursements, vested commissions or bonuses, etc.
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Is There a Separate Provision for Paying You any Accrued but Unused Sick Time? |
In this connection, I regret to say that employers have from time to time been known to "fold" such obligations into a severance offer, thereby reducing the true value of the severance even though, on its face, the severance offered appears to be in line with what is mandated in the severance policy.
Are You Being Denied Mandatory Severance Because the Employer Says
You Were Fired for Cause?
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= For cause |
Thus, for employees who fall into any of the above-categories, the most common area of dispute is when the employee is denied severance because the company takes the position that he/she was fired for cause.
And, I regret to inform, I have encountered many situations wherein an employer attempted to avoid its severance obligation by "manufacturing" a reason to terminate an employee that it had determined was no longer worth employing.
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Pretext = Lie |
When I see this situation arise, I will attempt to negotiate a resolution for the employee; failing that, I will without hesitation sue on a contingent fee basis if I believe the case has merit.
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Helping
Pennsylvania Workers With Severance Issues Since 1991
CLICK HERE TO JUMP TO JOHN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL |
Philadelphia Area Non-Compete
Agreement Attorney Who Specializes in
Representing Employees Negotiate Employment
Contracts and Separation
Agreements Containing a Release
John A. Gallagher is an employment lawyer who
represents employees who need an employment lawyer in Southeastern
Pennsylvania, including those working in Philadelphia County,
Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, Berks
County and Lancaster County.
Looking for a Pennsylvania Lawyer to Help You Negotiate a Better Severance Package? We
Offer Free Telephone Consultations and Contingent
Fee Representation for negotiating an increase over your original severance offer where appropriate
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