Before signing a severance offer or release, ask an employment lawyer to explain your options and what you would give up. Gather your contract, termination letter and pay details. Tell the lawyer about the employer's response deadline straight away.
Understand the situation and prepare
Make a list of your start and end dates, salary, bonus and benefits. Include any concerns about discrimination, leave or the reason you were dismissed. Ask whether the offer covers what may be owed and what signing the release would prevent you from doing later. Employment standards are not always the whole picture; an online calculator cannot assess every situation.
Understand the offer and the decision it asks you to make
A termination package can combine money, benefits, continuing obligations and a release. A response deadline in the employer's offer is a practical issue to discuss promptly; it is not a substitute for advice about the legal deadlines that may apply. The right assessment depends on your contract, work history and applicable law.
A practical example
Illustrative example: You receive an offer with a payment figure and a release. Before deciding, gather the employment contract, termination letter, pay information and relevant communications. Ask the lawyer to explain the whole proposal, including what signing the release would mean, instead of comparing the payment with an unverified calculator result.
Questions to settle before the next step
Ask whether the review includes negotiation and who will communicate with the employer. Confirm that the lawyer has accepted and can address the actual date. A request or proposed appointment does not extend a deadline or guarantee a larger payment. Mention union membership or other circumstances that may change the appropriate advice route.
Your next steps
- Keep the offer, release and employment agreement.
- List pay, bonus, benefits and relevant dates.
- Ask about deadlines before signing anything.
- Have a lawyer explain the release and available options.
How LegalMart can help
Find help that fits
LegalMart employment services can help you request a focused offer review. Read the scope or ask for an individual quote if negotiation is needed. State the deadline clearly and obtain a response confirming availability before relying on the request.
Keep the work connected
After your lawyer accepts the engagement, use the agreed shared service room for messages, documents and the next recorded action. Your lawyer may separately use private Workplace matter tools; you do not need a firm login, and sharing in one place does not automatically copy records into the other.
Use LegalMart for your next step
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What to keep in mind
LegalMart does not calculate a binding entitlement or promise a larger payment. Unionized, federally regulated and other situations may need different advice. Submitting a request does not extend a deadline.
Helpful sources
Read more from these official sources. Rules and services can change; check the current information before acting.