Being let go is disorienting, and employers often present a severance package while you’re still absorbing the news, with a deadline attached. Before you sign anything, a few careful steps can protect your position and, frequently, your money.

1. Don’t sign on the spot

This is the most important one. A severance offer almost always comes with a release, and signing it typically forfeits your right to pursue anything more, even if the offer is well below what you’re owed. That deadline on the letter is rarely as firm as it looks. It’s completely reasonable to say you need time to review the package before responding.

2. Save everything now

While you still have access, gather and keep copies of:

  • Your employment contract and any offer letter
  • The termination letter and severance offer
  • Recent pay stubs, bonus statements, and benefits information
  • Anything about equity, commissions, or unvested entitlements
  • Relevant emails or documents about your role and performance

Once your access is cut off, these can be hard to retrieve, and they’re exactly what’s needed to assess your entitlements.

3. Don’t say too much

It’s natural to want to respond, negotiate, or vent in the moment. Try not to. Avoid signing acknowledgments, sending an emotional reply, or agreeing to anything verbally. A simple “Thank you, I’ll review this and get back to you” is enough for now.

4. Start keeping a job-search record

You have a duty to make reasonable efforts to find comparable work (your duty to mitigate), and your severance entitlement is connected to how long that’s likely to take. Start a simple log of applications and responses from day one. It costs you nothing and can matter a great deal if your entitlement is ever questioned.

5. Get the offer reviewed before the deadline

Most severance offers are opening positions, not final ones, and the initial number frequently reflects the ESA minimums rather than your full common law entitlement, which can be substantially higher. A short review will tell you whether the package is fair and what room there is to negotiate.

You don’t have to figure this out alone

The days right after a dismissal are exactly when good advice is most valuable and most often skipped. A first consultation can change the entire outcome. Reach out today, ideally before that signing deadline arrives.