Ending an employment relationship is rarely easy. Don’t do it alone. Whether you are an employer or employee, consult with the employment law attorneys of Liberman Canna to understand your options regarding severance and separation agreements. With extensive experience in drafting and negotiating severance agreements, Liberman Canna can maximize the likelihood that a finalized severance agreement will end the employment relationship smoothly and avoid surprises.
Employers typically offer an employment severance package under the following circumstances:
- the employer has adopted a formal severance pay plan
- a collective bargaining agreement entitles the employee to severance pay
- the employer desires a release of legal claims from the employee
- severance pay was agreed to as a part of an employment contract
- the employee negotiated for severance pay
Liberman Canna routinely assists employees in the separation agreement context by:
- helping the employee understand a proposed separation agreement
- suggesting appropriate revisions to a draft separation agreement
- identifying potential legal claims that the employee may not wish to release
- avoiding the inadvertent release of earned compensation, commissions, bonuses, etc.
- negotiating for increased severance payments or benefits
- helping the employee obtain a positive reference letter
- minimizing the risk of disparagement by the former employer, including on a registered representative’s FINRA Form U-5
- analyzing post-employment non-competition and non-solicitation obligations
- developing a strategy to obtain a partial or complete waiver of non-compete obligations
- negotiating directly with the former employer or its legal counsel
