Severance is negotiable more often than people think, and signing has a clock. Read before you sign anything.
21 days
If you're 40 or older, federal law (the ADEA) usually gives you 21 days to review a severance agreement before signing (or 45 if you're part of a group layoff), plus 7 days to revoke after. Don't let anyone rush you.
Source: EEOC severance-waiver guidance
The federal 21 / 45 / 7-day rules, from the agency that enforces them.
Decode your agreement
When to get a lawyer
Worth a lawyer's eyes if…
You're 40 or older. Federal law (the OWBPA) gives you 21 days to consider it (45 in a group layoff), plus 7 days to revoke after you sign. If the paperwork doesn't reflect that, that's a flag.
It includes a non-compete, a non-solicit, or a sweeping non-disparagement clause.
The release waives “all claims” and you think you might actually have one (see below).
The amount is large, or the payout is tied to conditions you don't fully follow.
You're being pushed to sign today. There's almost never a real reason to.
HOW TO FIND ONE, AFFORDABLY
You may need a lawyer less often, and more affordably, than you think. Many employment lawyers give a free first consultation, and wage and discrimination cases are often taken on contingency, meaning you pay nothing up front.
Find an employee-side employment lawyer (NELA)
Your state bar's lawyer referral service
Free or low-cost legal aid (income-based)
Facing discrimination? Start with the EEOC
This isn't legal advice. It's a nudge to get a professional's read when the stakes are real.
Your severance deadlines
Know your rights
National Employment Law Project
What your employer can and can't do, in plain language.
General information, not legal advice. For anything you're unsure about, talk to an employment attorney before you sign.
Common questions
How long do I have to review a severance agreement?
If you're 40 or older, federal law (the ADEA) usually gives you 21 days to review it, or 45 days if it's part of a group layoff, plus 7 days to revoke after you sign. Nobody can make you sign on the spot, so don't let anyone rush you.
Can I negotiate my severance?
More often than people assume, yes. Knowing what's standard in a typical agreement is what tells you where there's room to ask, so read it before you sign anything.
What should I look at before signing a severance agreement?
Usually your final pay, how long benefits continue, any non-compete or confidentiality terms, and whether you're waiving legal claims. Going through it in plain English first helps you spot what's standard and what's worth pushing back on.
When is it worth having a lawyer review my severance?
When the numbers are large, the terms are confusing, or you think you might have a claim like discrimination or unpaid wages. This is general information, not legal advice, so when something's unclear an employment attorney is the right call before you sign.