Healthcare · Wisconsin
CVS Health Severance Package in Wisconsin 2026
CVS Health's standard severance formula is Grade-tier plan (per CVS SEC Q3 2023 Ex. 10.1): non-exempt 2 wks base + 2 wks/year, capped at 13 wks; exempt analyst tier 4 wks base + 2 wks/year, capped at 20 wks; senior manager/director tier floor 13 wks, capped at 44 wks. For employees based in Wisconsin, the combined federal + state withholding is approximately 27.3% (5.3% Wisconsin + 22% federal supplemental).
The numbers for a typical CVS Health employee in Wisconsin
- Typical formula
- Grade-tier plan (per CVS SEC Q3 2023 Ex. 10.1): non-exempt 2 wks base + 2 wks/year, capped at 13 wks; exempt analyst tier 4 wks base + 2 wks/year, capped at 20 wks; senior manager/director tier floor 13 wks, capped at 44 wks
- Average annual salary
- $95,000
- Example: 16-week gross
- $29,231
- Wisconsin state withholding
- 5.3%
- Federal supplemental
- 22.0%
- Combined withholding
- 27.3%
- Net take-home (16-week example, before FICA)
- $21,251
Worked example uses CVS Health's average salary of $95,000 and a 16-week severance period. Your actual package depends on tenure, role level, and the specific terms of your separation agreement. Use the calculator below for your personal numbers.
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CVS Health's recent layoff cycles
- January 2026: 313 affected. Aetna Small Group segment (Hartford CT + remote): sales, underwriting, plan-sponsor services. Separations April-July 2026.
- November 2025: 219 affected. Oak Street Health (CVS-owned primary care): 80 in Chicago HQ; coincides with closure of 16 Oak Street clinics by Feb 2026.
- October 2025: 72 affected. Aetna Medicare-Medicaid Program shutdown after losing the 2026 Ohio contract; remote workers in OH, MI, KY reporting to Hartford.
Wisconsin-specific protections for CVS Health employees
This is an educational summary, not legal advice. Consult an employment attorney licensed in Wisconsin for guidance specific to your situation.
Negotiation angles at CVS Health
- ·The grade table looks rigid but the Plan Administrator has stated discretion. Common asks that land in practice: bump to the next grade-tier cap, extend COBRA subsidy beyond severance weeks, lengthen outplacement
- ·Aetna contract-loss layoffs (Kansas 2024, Ohio 2025, Small Group 2026) are concentrated cohorts, strong leverage to ask for bonus proration (executive policy explicitly reserves prorated annual bonus as a separate item)
- ·Licensed pharmacists facing store closures can negotiate license-transfer support, relocation, or extended COBRA; CVS faces pharmacy-desert PR risk
- ·All payments require a sign-and-release waiver. Where OWBPA applies (employees 40+, employers with 20+ employees, releases waiving age claims), the review window is 21 or 45 days, time some people use to consider their options
Common questions
- What is CVS Health's typical severance package in Wisconsin?
- CVS Health typically offers Grade-tier plan (per CVS SEC Q3 2023 Ex. 10.1): non-exempt 2 wks base + 2 wks/year, capped at 13 wks; exempt analyst tier 4 wks base + 2 wks/year, capped at 20 wks; senior manager/director tier floor 13 wks, capped at 44 wks as the base severance package. Wisconsin adds 5.3% state income tax on top of the federal 22% supplemental withholding, for a combined withholding of 27.3% on the gross severance amount.
- How is CVS Health severance taxed in Wisconsin?
- Severance is treated as supplemental wages under IRS Publication 15-A. Federal withholding is a flat 22% (37% on amounts above $1 million in a calendar year). Wisconsin adds a state supplemental rate of approximately 5.3%. The combined withholding is approximately 27.3%, plus FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the wage base + 1.45% Medicare). The withheld amount is reconciled at tax-filing time against the year's total income.
- Does Wisconsin require minimum severance from CVS Health?
- No. Wisconsin does not require employers to pay severance; it remains a matter of company policy or individual contract. However, the federal WARN Act and Wisconsin's mini-WARN provisions may require advance notice or pay-in-lieu for mass layoffs.
- Can I negotiate severance from CVS Health if I'm based in Wisconsin?
- Yes. CVS Health's standard formula is largely fixed, but peripheral terms (extended healthcare coverage, accelerated equity vesting, non-compete narrowing, outplacement upgrades, release-of-claims scope) are typically negotiable. Consider consulting an employment attorney licensed in Wisconsin before signing.
- What's the take-home from CVS Health severance in Wisconsin?
- For a typical mid-tier CVS Health employee earning around $95,000 annually, a 16-week severance comes to approximately $29,231 gross. After federal supplemental withholding (22%) and Wisconsin state withholding (5.3%), the net take-home is approximately $21,251, before FICA. Tax is reconciled at filing time against the year's total income, so actual final tax may be higher or lower than the supplemental withholding.
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SeveranceCalc is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Our calculators and reports are educational estimates only. Only a licensed employment attorney in your state can advise you on your specific legal rights.
