Severance Negotiations & Agreements

Columbus Severance Negotiations and Agreements Lawyers

The Ohio severance negotiation attorneys at The Friedmann Firm review severance agreements and negotiate the terms of severance agreements. If you’ve recently been released from your employment and your employer has presented you with a severance agreement, it is of the utmost importance to have that agreement reviewed by a Columbus severance agreement attorney.

Employers offer severance packages to employees for a variety of reasons.   Your employer does not have to provide you severance if your employment is terminated but can choose to in appropriate situations. You want to be sure you understand the terms of the agreement and be sure you are not waiving any rights you do not intend to waive. Be aware that most severance agreements do require you to waive your right to sue your former employer in exchange for the compensation provided in the severance agreement.

What can our Columbus severance agreement lawyers do for you?

• Negotiate the amount of severance offered to you
• Explain provisions of the agreement so you understand what you are giving up in exchange for accepting the severance payment
• Negotiate the terms of the severance agreement, including extended medical, vision and dental benefits, outplacement assistance programs, neutral reference, profit sharing options and stock options.

A neutral reference is an integral part of a severance agreement because it provides you an opportunity to start fresh while you seek out other employment. A neutral reference can take many forms but typically includes the former employer providing your dates of employment, job title and rate of pay only to future employers. The great thing about a neutral reference is it does not contain any information about why you left your former employer. Therefore, if you were terminated, a neutral reference alleviates your obligation to disclose that information to potential employers. You will likely need a Columbus severance attorney to negotiate this for you, as it is not typically offered unless you request it.

What if I’m Offered Severance and I’m Over 40?

If you are offered severance in Ohio and you are over 40 years old, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) applies to you.   The OWBPA is an Ohio law that dictates that employees over 40 must be given at least 21 days to sign a severance agreement and another 7 days after that signature to revoke the agreement. If your employer does not give you at least 21 days to consider the severance agreement and you are 40 or older, your employer has violated the law.

It is very wise to have an Ohio severance agreement law firm review your severance agreement. We can discuss the circumstances surrounding your termination with you as well, to determine if you were terminated unlawfully. Even if you have not been offered severance but the circumstances surrounding your termination are suspicious or may be unlawful, we can request severance on your behalf and negotiate the terms of that severance.