Severance
Being laid off or being fired is never something anyone plans and it quite often comes as a surprise, and not a pleasant one either. If companies are feeling the pinch of the economy, layoffs are usually one of their first lines of defense to keep the balance sheet manageable. It’s that or they won’t be able to stay in business.
Unfortunately, no matter how good you may happen to be at your job, you could lose it through no fault of your own in a downsizing, reduction in force, or other form of lay-off. If you are offered a severance package, your employer will most likely require that you release any and all legal rights you may have as a condition to receiving any severance compensation. The severance offer may also include non-economic terms and restrictions that may not be in your best interests. Many people don’t know that they can negotiate a severance package, and that to do so in a beneficial manner, hiring a Chicago employee severance attorney with experience in this area is a smart one.
Certainly no one thinks about a severance package when they first get hired. This only comes about as the nasty result of being laid off or let go becoming a shocking reality. While it might feel like a good idea to try and stick it to your employer for letting you go, that isn’t the point of a severance package.
With your attorney assisting you, negotiating the package you are offered lets you ask for something more realistic and that suits your circumstances. For example, if you have worked for the company about to let you go for a great number of years, the number of months severance may be negotiated higher than an initial starting point of a month per year served.
On the other hand, if you haven’t been with the company for more than a year, the severance package may work better for you if it is spread out over a longer period of time. These are all considerations that you and your legal counsel will discuss when dealing with being laid off.
There are other twists and turns to negotiation of a severance package that many people would not think of, and those relate to fair treatment and asking for something to assist you in being trained while searching for a new job. For example, say you have extensive experience with certain systems, and your expertise would stand you in good stead job hunting. It is possible to ask for additional money to assist you in getting training to look for that new position.
Negotiating a severance package isn’t just about asking for more or something different. Often is it more about figuring out what it contains in the first place, something your attorney will figure out for you. Knowing what you have in hand prior to negotiating for more or something different is a critical point in severance negotiations.
Even knowing what you are being offered doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to accept it as it is written. The main question is whether or not the package serves you well now and in the future as it is written. Many people are not able to determine that on their own. This is why you will need the services of seasoned legal counsel to protect your interests now and in the future.
Never assume that you are getting a good deal, as once the deal is taken apart legally, it may be anything “but” good or fair. Again, this needs to be discussed at length with an attorney with experience in this area of the law. Make sure you contact a Chicago severance negotiation attorney well in advance of the deadline to respond that you will either accept or wish to negotiate your severance package. If you think it is unrealistic or unfair, talk to your lawyer. You never know when you might be able to negotiate more than was initially offered.
At The Coffey Law Office we take the time to listen to your concerns, ask for all the pertinent details and then we operate on an investigate, evaluate and negotiate basis. This means that The Coffey Law Office will only charge a one-time, non-refundable fee for assessing the merits of your case.
The fee is based on your financial ability to pay and the extent of the work required to determine if the case is meritorious. This does not necessarily mean that The Coffey Law Office will litigate your case, but it will definitely let you know your legal rights and whether or not you do indeed have grounds to proceed to litigation.
Chicago Severance Negotiation Lawyer
At The Coffey Law Firm we value our clients and deal with them in a no nonsense straightforward manner. We tell them what they need to know to make informed decisions, not what they want to hear. Call us today for some straight talk about your case. We won’t keep you in the dark and promise you the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but we will let you know where you stand legally.