Posted on 10/19/2012 2:14:49 PM PDT by Volunteer
I was fired from my job today after 5 years. They have offered me a 5 month severance package, the catch is I have to sign some agreement that I can't understand.
They explained they would not pay me my monthly salary this month or my 207 hours of vacation unless I sign the agreement.
Can any one out there give me some advice as to what I should do? I am in Wisconsin and I know nothing about Employment Law here.
Any suggestions would be very helpful and very appreciated.
Are you a white female call Gloria Allred
Don't sign until you have adequate legal advice.
If you don’t understand it, don’t sign it. Get an attorney to spend an hour reading and explaining it to you.
Fired or laid off?
Big difference.
The agreement you would sign would necessarily be different for each case.
There are lawyers that specialize in this sort of thing. Call around and see if you can get a free consultation.
I am sorry this happened to you! Hopefully you can find another position soon.
Is the 5 month package better than unemployment or are they asking that you take their package and sign-off on any further compensation? Be careful sounds as if they will do whatever it takes to save a buck. I would check, you may be better filing for unemployment which may last longer than their five month deal after which you may not be able to file for the unemployment.
Every state had Labor department which resolves such issue, I won’t advise you to sign anything.
When you have worked this month and accumulated vacation, they have to pay.
Check state or talk to your county labor department.
I also wanted to add my condolences. Sometimes losing a long term job can be really stressful.
Don’t sign something that you don’t understand.
Have an attorney look it over if need be.
...probably a standard agreement not to jump on social media and dump, belittle, and libel them for 1 year, no contact with remaining personnel (for purposes of the preceeding), etc., etc.
generally, sign, walk away, and never look back...and, if you engage in the future in similar work, obviously no divulging proprietary information of the former employer....
..signing gives them the right to come and royally clean your clock if you are a jerk about it..
The HR guy then explained that if I sign this agreement, that it would be seen that I quit in lieu of termination.
When I asked why I was being fired, I was told "performance". I am an at-will employee, so I assume that can mean anything.
Sign it and take the money. Most of those agreements are non-compete (saying you won’t take a job with a company that competes directly with them) and they’re all unenforceable.
Common request for you to review the package they are going to give you. If you do not believe you are owed any bonus, expenses, etc, then you should sign and move on. Have fun in your next endevour.
You might be signing away all kinds of things they should be liable for!
(What are they gonna do if you insist on waiting - fire you?)
Probably best to sign it. If you have any questions see an attorney. Do your homework first so you can ask the right questions.
I’m not sure but I didn’t think they could refuse to pay your vacation if you don’t sign it. Unless there is something really egregious, it’s more than most companies are giving.
I went through the same thing four years ago. I signed the paper work and agreed not to sue. I got three months severance pay and three months vacation pay that I had on the books. I figured that if I sued I would have to pay a lawyer up front and I could wind up with nothing. I also got un-enjoyment benefits. I was back to work three months later. I was lucky. If I had known that I would be back to work in three months I would have enjoyed the break. Think positive. 0bama will be gone and the economy will come back strong.
I was fired from my job today after 5 years. They have offered me a 5 month severance package, the catch is I have to sign some agreement that I can’t understand.
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That’s a pretty good settlement. Are you being fired or laid off? Are others getting the axe too or is this just your problem?
If you have the time to consider this - do it. Otherwise, I’d take it it today. Especially if it was a broader work force reduction.
Must be your first time getting fired ;-)
IANAL but...
1. The vacation time is yours - don't let them bluff you.
2. you'll probably have to sign to get the severance
3. don't sign until you get a lawyer to look it over.
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