Are you facing a lay off or a company wide downsizing? Your employer may be providing you with a severance agreement during this transition. Severance agreements are not required at the end of any employment relationship. However, most employers use it as a proactive way to manage their future risk.

The severance agreement can be very simple to very complicated depending on the employer and the specific industry. It is not unusual for the employer to try to get the employee to release any and all future legal claims they may have against the former employer for a sum of money.

Severance agreements are simply contracts and all contracts can be negotiated. If you are the employee presented with a severance agreement it would be wise to have a lawyer review the severance agreement before you sign away any potential legal claims that you may have against your former employer.

California Severance Agreements:: California Employment Lawyers & Attorneys