Severance Pay Blog
Educational guides on negotiation, taxes, the legal context, and more
Try Our Free Calculator7 Red Flags in Severance Agreements That Should Make You Pause
February 13, 2026 • 11 min read
Not every severance agreement is offered in good faith. Learn to recognize the red flags that signal you need to push back, negotiate harder, or consult an attorney before signing.
guidesHow to Calculate Severance Pay: Free Calculator + Formula (2026)
February 12, 2026 • 7 min read
Calculate your severance pay in 30 seconds. Enter salary, years of service, state, and industry to get low, typical, and high estimates. Includes the exact formula employers use.
legalHow Stock Options, RSUs, and Equity Vesting Work in Severance Packages
February 12, 2026 • 10 min read
Accelerated vesting, cliff vesting rules, post-termination exercise windows, and equity negotiation strategies that can add hundreds of thousands to your severance package.
industryTech Layoffs 2026 Severance: Google, Meta, Amazon
February 12, 2026 • 5 min read
Side-by-side severance claims for Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Salesforce. Amazon's dated announcements describe internal job-search time and support, without an individual cash formula or equity terms.
negotiationSeverance Negotiation Email Templates: Scripts You Can Adapt
February 11, 2026 • 9 min read
Email examples for acknowledging an offer, asking about missing terms or more time, describing a proposal you have chosen, and requesting a revised draft.
industrySeverance Pay in a Recession: What to Expect in 2026
February 10, 2026 • 9 min read
Recessions shrink severance packages by 20-40%. Learn which industries cut the most, how 2026 compares to 2008 and 2020, and 5 strategies to protect your severance during an economic downturn.
legal7 Signs Your Termination Was Wrongful, and What to Do About It
February 10, 2026 • 10 min read
Not every firing is legal. Learn the key warning signs that your termination may have been wrongful, what protections you have under federal and state law, and how to take action.
legalLaid Off vs. Fired: How Each Affects Your Severance and Benefits
February 9, 2026 • 11 min read
Being laid off and being fired are legally distinct events with different implications for severance eligibility, unemployment benefits, and your ability to negotiate. Here is what you need to know.
negotiationStock Options and RSUs in Severance: What Happens to Your Equity When You're Laid Off
February 8, 2026 • 12 min read
Equity treatment after termination depends on the award agreement and plan. Learn which vesting, exercise-window, valuation, and tax variables to verify.
legalDo You Have to Sign a Severance Agreement? (And How Long)
February 7, 2026 • 11 min read
Understand your rights when presented with a severance agreement: how long you have to decide, what happens if you don't sign, legal protections for older workers, and red flags to watch for.
benefitsPTO Payout After Layoff 2026: Only 24 States Require It
February 7, 2026 • 10 min read
Only 24 states require employers to pay out unused PTO when you're laid off. Check if yours does, how PTO interacts with severance, and how to negotiate for every dollar of PTO your state requires.
guidesSeverance Package Checklist: Everything to Review Before You Sign (2026)
February 7, 2026 • 11 min read
The seven components worth reviewing in any severance agreement: cash and structure, COBRA, bonus proration, equity, PTO, the release, and restrictive covenants, with the specific items to check under each.
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