Signature Block Severance Plan Made Easy

Signature severance agreement

my name is Pete Reinhardt and I'm going to share with you several things to consider before signing a severance agreement it is common for an employer who is discharging an employee to offer a severance payment this is particularly true when the discharge does not involve misconduct by the employee an employer is not required by law to offer any severance payment nor is the employer required to offer any specific amount of severance prior to making a severance payment an employer will almost always require an employee to sign a written agreement severance agreements may have different titles such as a resignation and release agreement separation and release agreement or retirement and release agreement regardless of what it is called the agreement will create important legal rights and remedies for both parties while the severance payment will assist the departing employee with some of his or her financial needs on a short-term basis the severance agreement also serves a very useful purposes for the employer it allows the employer to obtain certain promises from the employee about the employees conduct after the separation from employment for example a severance agreement almost always includes an agreement by the employee that releases the employer from any and all claims that could be asserted by the employee against the employer that arise out of a relate to the employment relationship if properly drafted the release will preclude the employee from suing the employer for such things as employment discrimination or wrongful termination employees who are 40 years or older are given special protections under federal law with respect to severance agreements they are given 21 days to consider the severance agreement and seven days after signing the agreement to revoke or rescind the agreement other common provisions and severance agreements include a promise by the employer that he or she will not disparage that is badmouth the employer and a requirement that the employee will keep the payment of severance confidential some severance agreements will contain promises by the employee that he or she will not compete with the employer for a period of time after the separation from employment in Wisconsin an employee cannot really sir waive his or write his or her right to make a workers compensation claim most well drafted agreements contain a specific reference to the fact that this right is not being waived or released employees are usually able to negotiate some of the terms of a severance agreement with the employer a common term subject negotiation is how the employer will refer to the separation from employment as a resignation or a termination as well as how an employer will handle requests for information from prospective employers another common term subject negotiation is that the employer will not contest unemployment compensation a severance agreement is a legal document with important legal consequences both the employer and employee should understand the terms of the severance agreement before signing it