After years of good work and loyal service, your employer hands you a severance agreement. They want to pay you a lump sum for leaving quietly. In return, they want you to waive all your rights. You should not sign right away. The employer will often tell you in writing that you should consult a lawyer about the severance agreement. And there are good reasons that you should do that.

First, you should consult an employment law attorney to see if you have any employment claims which you are giving up. You should be compensated for giving up these claims. Second, you should consult an employment law attorney to make sure that the severance agreement is fair, that you will get all your vested benefits, that you will get unemployment benefits, and that you will be able to get another job. Third, there may be room to enhance the agreement, either in monetary or other terms. In our 25 years experience in employment law, we have helped employees in New York State and New York City with their severance agreements, and have obtained larger severance payments and more favorable contract terms than were originally offered.

Contact us online or call us at (212) 949-1001 so that we can review the severance agreement of your New York State or New York City employer.