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What Happens if I Don't Respond by the Severance Offer Deadline?

When you receive a severance offer, it usually has a date for you to respond.  Often it is 21 days, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter.

What happens if you don't respond by the deadline?

Legally, it is immaterial.  The employer can retract its offer anytime before the deadline expires anyway, so all the deadline means is that they are telling you they do not promise the offer will be on the table past that date.

Practically, it can matter.  If your goal is to negotiate a better severance, an employer may take the position if the deadline has passed that it no longer is willing to entertain severance.

This is why it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you know you have a severance offer to consider.  You may think you have legal claims, but find out that they are either not viable or not worth pursuing.  In that case, you do not want to let the offer expire and walk away from some compensation that could help ease your job transition.

On the flip side, if you do have strong claims but still want to negotiate an adequate severance, the more time you give your attorney to assess and articulate those claims before the deadline, the better your chances of a positive outcome.



Learn more here about evaluating a severance agreement.

Need Help With a Severance Question?

Call (781) 784-2322
OR
Schedule a Free Information Call
Severance Agreements in Massachusetts employment lawyer

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Copyright 2022, slnlaw
  • Home
  • Employment Law
    • Guide To Employment Law Content
    • Employment Contracts in Massachusetts
    • Discrimination in the Workplace
    • Employment Termination >
      • Massachusetts Paid Family Leave
      • Severance Pay
      • Unemployment in Massachusetts
    • Sexual Harassment at Work >
      • Sexual Harassment in a Small Business
      • Sexual Harassment and Non Disclosure Agreements
      • Sexual Harassment and Remote Work
    • Wage and Hour Laws >
      • Overtime Law >
        • Overtime Exemptions
        • Employee Travel Time
        • Federal or State Overtime Law
      • Massachusetts Wage Act >
        • Payment of Commissions
        • Wage Deductions
        • Late Payment of Wages
        • Paid Time Off
    • Independent Contractor Law
    • Non Compete Agreements >
      • Are non competes enforceable
      • Massachusetts Non Compete Act
      • Pre 2018 Massachusetts Non Competes
  • Estate Planning
    • Guide To Estate Planning Content
    • Legacy Protection
    • Why You Need an Estate Plan
    • Why You Don't Have an Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning Documents >
      • Children with Special Needs
    • Planning for Assisted Living
    • Probate Process
  • Business Law
    • Guide To Business Law Content
    • Small Business Law
    • Business Contract Basics
    • Civil Suit Defense
    • Legal Issues for Start Ups
    • Trademark Basics
    • How to Incorporate
    • Sale of Business
  • About
    • Reviews
    • Slnlaw Offices
    • slnlaw core values
    • Publications and Interviews
    • New Client Intake and Consultation
    • Contact
  • Attorneys
    • Emily Smith-Lee >
      • 2018 Lawyer of the Year
    • Jenna Ordway
    • Rebecca Rogers
    • Sharleen Tinnin
    • Elijah Bresley
  • Legal FAQs
    • Estate Planning FAQs
    • Probate FAQs
    • Small Business FAQs
    • Wage Act FAQs
    • Commission Pay FAQs
    • Overtime FAQs
    • Independent Contractor FAQs
    • Non Compete FAQs
    • Employment Discrimination FAQs
    • Employment Termination FAQs
    • Massachusettts Unemployment FAQs
    • Severance Package FAQs
    • Medical Leave FAQs
    • Sexual Harassment FAQs
    • Employer FAQs
    • Civil Lawsuit FAQs
  • Blog