Sacramento Severance Agreement Lawyer
Severance Agreements: Good for All or Good for None?
In some cases, a severance agreement may be the best and most practical
way for an employment relationship to end. In general, a severance agreement
is entered into between an employee and an employer when one or both parties
desire to end a contentious or troublesome employment relationship without
further hassle or argument. The employer agrees to pay the employee a
certain sum of money; in exchange, the employee agrees to release the
employer from any further legal claims that the employee may have against
the employer.
In one regard, a severance agreement is a win-win for both employer and
employee. The business is able to limit its legal liabilities and damages
it might owe to the employee, while the employee is able to walk away
from what might be an unpleasant or hostile work environment with enough
compensation to start afresh. On the other hand, the business is forced
to pay a severance amount that might be hard to stomach, while the employee
is being asked to forego any future legal claims against the company that
he or she might have.
Are severance agreements good ideas for employers or employees? It depends.
Do Not Sign a Severance Agreement in California Without Legal Counsel
Employers typically offer employees severance agreements when a particular
employee is seen as being too great of a legal liability to continue employment.
- This includes instances when:
- The employee is accused of committing harassing behavior toward other employees
- The employee is a victim of harassment and is threatening to sue the employer
You should never sign a severance agreement without reading and fully understanding
the document. You should also consider retaining legal counsel to assist
you in negotiating and drafting the terms of the agreement and in reviewing
the final agreement for accuracy. Once you have signed the severance agreement,
the document becomes a binding and enforceable contract that cannot be
changed except in very limited circumstances.
I Have Been Offered a Severance Agreement: What Should I Do?
If you have been offered a severance agreement by your employer, it is
important that you remain calm and collected. Gather as many details as
you can about the proposed offer: how much will be offered to you, what
must you give up or do as part of the agreement, how long do you have
to decide whether to accept the offer, and what is your employer’s
reason for offering a severance agreement, are all valid questions to ask.
Take the information about the severance agreement that you obtained and
discuss the matter with an experienced California severance agreement
attorney. He or she will be able to process the information you possess
and help you better understand whether it is better for you to accept
the agreement or whether you would be better off rejecting the agreement
and retaining your rights that you would have given up under the agreement.
Proficient & Skilled Severance Agreement Negotiation in California
Sacramento employment law attorney Gay Carroll-Haring of the Law Offices
of Gay Carroll-Haring is available to assist you navigate what can be
a confusing set of potential paths after you have been offered a settlement
agreement. I can help you make sense of your situation and help you decide
on a course of action that is best for your situation.
Contact me today by calling 916-443-3553 to
schedule an initial consultation.