Pennsylvania Severance Lawyers
Dial (800) 466-5015 to Schedule a Free Consultation
Easy 4-Step Process for Severance Pay Help in Pennsylvania
Step 1.
Call us or email your agreement to info@severance-lawyers.com.
Step 2.
Our office will schedule a date and time for the meeting (either in person, Zoom, or via phone). All meetings can be scheduled within 24 hours.
Step 3.
Our Pennsylvania severance lawyer will conduct a thorough review of the agreement before discussing it carefully with you and answering your questions.
Step 4.
Our attorneys will send you a detailed email regarding any changes, revisions, or other items in your Pennsylvania severance package that need addressing with your previous employer. You will then have the option to negotiate with your employer directly on your behalf to retain us to negotiate for you to try to improve the terms and amount of severance pay.
Severance and Employment Law in Pennsylvania
Under Pennsylvania law, employers are not legally required to provide severance packages. However, if an employer does choose to offer a severance package to their employees, they must abide by the terms of the agreement and ensure that it is fair and reasonable for both parties. Employees in Pennsylvania who have been offered a severance package should make sure that they understand all of its terms before signing it so that they know exactly what they are entitled to receive from their employer. Additionally, employees may be able to negotiate with their former employer for better terms or a higher amount of severance pay if desired.
What Terms Should Be Included in Pennsylvania Severance Agreements?
When it comes to severance agreements in Pennsylvania, certain provisions must be included in order to ensure the agreement is fair and reasonable for both parties. These include terms related to severance pay, medical benefits, references, dispute resolution, and confidentiality.
Here are some insights on each of these items that should be taken into consideration when negotiating a severance package with your employer.
- Severance pay: Severance pay should reflect the employee’s years of service and position within the company as well as any other factors that may have an effect on their salary such as age or disability status.
- Medical benefits: If an employer offers medical benefits as part of a severance package, they should provide details about how long those benefits will last and what type of coverage will be provided.
- References: It's important for employers to give employees positive job references after they leave so he/she can find new employment more easily.
- Dispute resolution: Employers typically require employees to sign waivers or releases that state that all disputes between them must be resolved through arbitration rather than litigation in court. This helps protect both parties from legal action if disagreements arise later on.
- Confidentiality: Employers often include provisions in their severance packages that require employees to keep confidential any information they learned while employed with the company. This ensures that sensitive or proprietary information is not shared with outside parties.
How to Calculate Severance in Pennsylvania
If your employer in Pennsylvania presents you with a severance agreement, it may be difficult to understand what they are asking you to sign. Before agreeing to anything, it is advisable to have an experienced employment attorney review the severance agreement and suggest changes if necessary. Our team of skilled severance lawyers has extensive experience in this area and can assist in evaluating and negotiating your Pennsylvania severance package to safeguard your rights and secure the best possible benefit.
Severance Pay Laws in Pennsylvania
If you have received a severance agreement from your employer in Pennsylvania, it may be unclear what you are being asked to sign. This is especially true if you are not familiar with Pennsylvania's severance laws. It is advisable to seek the review of an experienced employment attorney before accepting the agreement or requesting modifications.
Severance agreements in Pennsylvania may provide you with benefits such as severance pay, insurance, or stock plans. However, these agreements are primarily intended to safeguard your employer's interests. Clauses such as non-disparagement, non-compete, and non-mutual releases are generally favorable to your employer and may affect you financially and legally in the future. It is essential to carefully examine the agreement's details before putting your signature on it.
If you need assistance with your severance agreement, Severance Lawyers can help. We will review your agreement, explain the legal terms, and make sure everything follows Pennsylvania's severance laws. Our goal is to ensure that both you and your employer agree to the terms and that you receive the best benefits possible. Whether you require a labor lawyer from Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, we are ready to assist you in protecting your rights.
Your Rights in Pennsylvania
The state of Pennsylvania does not mandate employers to provide severance packages, however, if an agreement is put in place for severance pay, it will be enforced. Unfortunately, some employees may be persuaded by their employers to sign agreements that may not be in their best interest since severance pay is typically seen as a goodwill gesture. As a result, the severance laws in Pennsylvania can be difficult to understand.
It is recommended that all employees to consult with severance law specialists to negotiate their severance packages. This will guarantee that the agreement received is tailored to their specific needs. While a payout may seem attractive, it could come with hidden terms and conditions that may affect your finances and career by revoking legal rights. It is important to ensure that you receive everything you are entitled to with the help of an expert who can protect your rights.
Who We Are
Our team of Severance Lawyers in Pennsylvania has over 13 years of experience in reviews, negotiations, and navigating severance laws. We aim to protect our clients' rights and ensure that no employee is pressured into accepting an unfavorable agreement. Whether you're in Allegheny County or Philadelphia, our labor lawyers are experienced and dedicated to helping you receive a fair deal from your employer.
We provide complete support for you to understand your Pennsylvania severance agreement and laws. Our services include a 4-step review process, award-winning attorneys specializing in severance, and 24-hour response time to initial inquiries. Our goal is to ensure that you receive everything you're entitled to in your severance and have peace of mind throughout the process.
Reach out to us for a consultation by calling (800) 466-5015.
Our Pennsylvania Severance Lawyers Serve the Following Communities
- Adams County
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Bedford County
- Berks County
- Blair County
- Bradford County
- Bucks County
- Butler County
- Cambria County
- Cameron County
- Carbon County
- Centre County
- Chester County
- Clarion County
- Clearfield County
- Clinton County
- Columbia County
- Crawford County
- Cumberland County
- Dauphin County
- Delaware County
- Elk County
- Erie County
- Fayette County
- Forest County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Huntingdon County
- Indiana County
- Jefferson County
- Juniata County
- Lackawanna County
- Lancaster County
- Lawrence County
- Lebanon County
- Lehigh County
- Luzerne County
- Lycoming County
- McKean County
- Mercer County
- Mifflin County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Montour County
- Northampton County
- Northumberland County
- Perry County
- Philadelphia County
- Pike County
- Potter County
- Schuylkill County
- Snyder County
- Somerset County
- Sullivan County
- Susquehanna County
- Tioga County
- Union County
- Venango County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
Client reviews
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- Al W.
This law firm helped me achieve the results that I needed. Would recommend Paul to anyone that feels as though they have been wronged and need legal guidance and assistance.
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- Wendy G.
My experience with Severance Lawyers was excellent. They gave my case all the time and attention that was needed to be successful. They were a calming and confident presence during a difficult and uncertain time for me. Their guidance was outstanding at all times, prompt, professional, timely and open for calls and quick updates. They invested the time to work through all of my questions and issues. I can’t thank them enough and would hire them again.
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- Michelle M.
Tom and his staff understand the law very well. They are quick to return calls, take the initiative, and explain things in a way I can understand. From start to finish Tom was there to help me out every step of the way with our case. I am glad to have Tom and his team on my side. I simply cannot thank them enough!
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- Tucker W.
I found myself in a challenging & stressful situation that required legal representation and their attorney Paul Castronovo handled it beyond my expectations. Paul is incredibly experienced/knowledgeable and I just felt like I was in good hands the entire time. Paul has a calming demeanor too–which is helpful in these stressful situations. Paul helped turn my lemons into lemonade.
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- Sweta M.
Tom McKinney’s prompt attention, articulate and comprehensive advice addressed my Employment Agreement related issue. His confidence shined through instilling the confidence in me and peace of mind having him by my side. If you’re dealing with the proverbial ‘blood sucking’ company, look no further than Tom’s voice of reason.
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- Austin S.
Going to Tom and his team for my case was the best decision I made. He was professional and knowledgeable in employment law. He helped me reach a resolution and I could not recommend him enough for anyone else out there.
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- Sean C.
Tom McKinney is one of the best attorneys that I know…whether to negotiate on your behalf or reviewing your agreement to make sure you are getting maximum value for your compensation. From stock options to deferred compensation. I have referred him to friends in NJ and NY.
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- Joe K.
I had Tom review my severance agreement. He provided a lot of valuable insight. I was able to go back to my employer with various points and double my package. Tom was prudent in having me use his services (told me to go back to my employer before fully engaging him) and I did not overpay when not needed. Other lawyers could have easily taken advantage of my situation and over-lawyered the situation.
Have Questions?
We Have Answers!
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How long do I have to sign the severance documents?
When companies terminate employees and provide a severance package, the goal of the severance is to benefit both the company and the employee. Therefore, the employee has time to review the agreement. Review timelines depend on employee age and the number of people terminated simultaneously.
- Employees under the age of 40 – No set time frame, but it must be reasonable and ample enough to review and understand the components.
- Employees over the age of 40 – 21 days to review and sign and 7 days to reconsider and revoke your signature.
- Multiple terminations at once – 45 days to review and sign and 7 days to reconsider and revoke your signature.
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How is severance pay calculated?
Several factors go into severance pay amounts. Employees in higher management positions may receive additional benefits like longer pay terms, office equipment, or medical benefits.
Typical payouts can last up to 26 weeks and go by the following calculations:
- Hourly Employees: Number of years with company X 1 week of regular pay = Severance Pay $ Total
- Salaried Employees: Number of years with company X 2 weeks of regular pay = Severance Pay $ Total
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Am I entitled to severance pay?
No, most companies provide a severance agreement when they lay off or fire an employee. Offering a severance package is entirely optional for the company. Most companies only do it to protect themselves from future lawsuits, the employee going to a competitor company, or adverse claims from the employee. The company takes multiple factors into account when preparing the packages.
