When an employer terminates or lays off a worker, they may ask the employee to sign a severance agreement. This type of contract provides recently terminated employees with monetary compensation or benefits in exchange for waiving current and future claims they may have against their employer.
If you were recently laid off or fired by an employer, or you had to let go of some employees, a Georgia severance agreements lawyer can assist you in negotiating and executing a contract. A qualified employment attorney will evaluate the facts surrounding the termination and advise you of your legal rights to either receive or offer severance benefits. Sparks Law will defend your interests should any disputes arise during the contract negotiation process.
Georgia is an at-will employment state, meaning employers do not need to have a reason to fire or lay off employees so long as the action is not attributable to illegal workplace discrimination. At-will employment status also means employers are not typically required by law to offer severance pay when they terminate employees.
However, employers may decide to offer severance packages for many reasons, including:
Some business owners might even include severance pay and benefits as part of the company’s official policies or a condition in their employment contracts. If you are considering offering a severance package to an employee, a legal professional can assist you in drafting an agreement.
The types of benefits an employee can receive under a severance contract will vary based on that individual’s specific circumstances. Such agreements may include provisions addressing:
A local attorney who regularly negotiates and drafts severance agreements can help, whether you’re an employee fighting to obtain the benefits you need after your release, or a business leader trying to protect your company from unnecessary risk.
The amount of monetary compensation employees can obtain through severance agreements depends on a number of factors. In some instances, companies outline severance package details in their personnel policies, placing specific limits on the amount of money they are willing to offer. In other cases, the amount of monetary compensation employees could obtain depends on factors such as:
An attorney can assist you in determining the amount of compensation you could offer or receive based on the specific circumstances of the case. A dedicated lawyer can also defend your interests should a dispute arise concerning the compensation employees receive according to a severance contract.
If you are seeking severance pay from a former employer or are contemplating entering into a severance agreement with an employee, you should contact our firm right away.
A Georgia severance agreements lawyer can explain your legal rights to receive or offer benefits packages and draft an agreement on your behalf. In such circumstances, time may be of the essence. Call us today to book an appointment and start working on your case.
