How to Collect Severance Pay
Sometimes when a company terminates an employee, the company will offer severance pay to that employee. In most cases, severance pay is used by a company in hopes that it will deter any legal action that may be taken against it by the former employee.
Decide if you want to collect the
severance pay in the first place. When you accept severance pay, you
will have to sign an agreement giving up your right to pursue legal
action against the company. If you think that you may have a
legitimate lawsuit that you think is worth filing, do not accept the
severance pay.Talk to a lawyer. Before you sign
any severance pay agreement, consult an attorney to go over the
agreement with you. A lawyer can make sure that the agreement is
fair to you. Do not wait until after you have signed the agreement
to consult with a lawyer. It is too late after you have already
signed the agreement.Sign the severance pay agreement
after it is determined to be fair to you. Be sure to know when you
are supposed to get your severance pay.Contact the company directly if
your severance pay is late. Demand to talk to someone who is in
charge. If there is a mistake, they are the ones who can fix the
mistake with your severance pay. If you talk to someone in charge
and you still do not receive your severance pay, contact a lawyer
immediately and tell them about your situation.