Being laid off is usually highly stressful, especially if it takes you by surprise. One minute you’re working at your desk, the next you’re packing it – sometimes without fully knowing why. If the employer offers a severance package, it may soften the blow. But should you accept the first offer? We recommend that you talk to an Austin employee layoff attorney at Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers before agreeing to accept a severance offer.
Types of Layoff Situations
Some layoffs include multiple employees, but sometimes it’s a layoff of one. If you are the only person laid off, that could be a signal that you may have a claim against your employer. Some other examples of layoff situations that may indicate that you could have a claim against your employer include:
- You are over 40 and were laid off while younger workers were retained;
- You were laid off after requesting or using time off under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA);
- You were laid off after requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability;
- You were laid off after making a complaint of illegal discrimination or sexual harassment to your employer or the EEOC.
What Does a Phone Evaluation Involve?
Contact Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers today for an initial evaluation by phone. A full severance package consultation with an accomplished Austin employment lawyer at a very reasonable hourly rate includes:
- A thorough review of your employment and the circumstances of the layoff, with an emphasis on evaluation of claims you may have under state and federal law pertaining to employment and wages;
- Review of the proposed agreement;
- Discussion of the terms proposed agreement, including any non-competition, non-disclosure, release, and other provisions; and
- Discussion of the pros and cons of making a claim under employment law, attempting to negotiate a more lucrative severance or accepting the offer.
If your employer is initiating early termination of an employment contract or is asking you to sign a restrictive agreement such as a non-disclosure or non-compete agreement, at the time of your termination (but you have not signed one before), an Austin employee layoff lawyer at our firm may be able to negotiate additional compensation.
Consult an Austin Employee Layoff Attorney at Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers
Your initial response to losing your job can range from wanting to quickly move on to having a desire to fight for every bit of compensation you can get. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, it is important to understand your legal rights, the effect of the terms of any severance package offered to you and the legal options that are available.
Our employee layoff lawyers in Austin, TX and other areas such as Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi and San Antonio, can help protect your rights and interests as you enter a period of professional and financial uncertainty. Call us at 512-474-7677 today for an initial phone evaluation and to schedule a severance package consultation.