I am getting some unclear information on whether one can get unemployment if taking this severance. A lot of policies for unemployment state that if one voluntarily leaves, they may be ineligible for unemployment.
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@as Yes, it does. You do realize "voluntary" and "opt-in" mean the same thing, right?
So better to get laid off and get the security of unemployment too
@ar HR confirmed the opt-in would be considered a "voluntary separation" this morning on VH office hours. Be sure to do your research accordingly depending on which state you are in.
Nope, nothing we are signing says this is voluntary.
You do you but here’s what I’m doing:
I am submitting this statement to support my claim for unemployment benefits. My employment with Paramount Global is being terminated as part of a company-initiated workforce reduction. I did not volunteer to leave, and this separation is not related to performance or disciplinary action.
Paramount is offering employees a severance/buyout package, which employees may choose to accept or decline. While acceptance is optional, the underlying separation is employer-initiated and involuntary.
Additionally, Paramount has required employees to return to the office five days per week, and it is widely reported that the company is pursuing $2 billion in cost-saving measures, including workforce reductions.
Given that my separation is involuntary, I am requesting that my claim for unemployment benefits be considered accordingly.
I think we have a case! This is NOT voluntary? This is employer initiated. We are being forced out, it’s public knowledge that paramount is set to cut up to $2 billion. additionally, the severance letter does not mention ANYTHING about this being voluntary! I am not signing anything that says this is voluntary, so they can go sc--w themselves.
In 2008 layoffs in CBS News in NYC, union riff Raff did the backroom deal with stations pres. Peter dunn & VP David friend - they let other union people get laid off and a few months later a bunch of union pension employees ( early CBS employees had a pension up to hired around the late '80's) then "voluntarily" retired/ let the company lay them off - and they got maximum unemployment ( including the president of one union who was an employee in NYC) - a giveback from dunn/friend for letting them layoff the earlier wave of union staff ( who had no union protection because they were hired after the 80's.). So don't anybody get misled - union employees especially will NOT take a voluntary buyout - until months after the first round of other unknowing union employees. Everybody taking a buyout will get unemployment in NYC and probably the bigger city O&O's like LA, CHICAGO, MIAMI etc. Stop believing what is supposed to happen & start realizing the reality of what does happen
This might depend on the state. For example, I found this for Massachusetts, which would seem to indicate someone taking voluntary separation is eligible for unemployment:
"For example, where an employer announces a layoff plan that contains voluntary as well as potentially involuntary components and thereby creates an environment in which an employee is forced to speculate on the likelihood of an involuntary termination, such employee has “good cause attributable to the employer” to leave work and take a voluntary severance package."
From: https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/23-was-separation-coerced-or-required-employer
What was this vh meeting? Was there some call with more info?
That VH meeting was a war zone. Damn.
It is a strategic move for them to do it this way because then they don’t have to pay their portion of your unemployment.
I asked HR and they said it's a resignation, so no unemployment in addition to severance. I missed most of the VH town hall and they didn't record it. What I did catch has me leaning towards opting in because I got the sense nobody has ever been able to tell David Ellison "No" and leaders have zero intention of doing so or even pushing back. Losing unemployment AND a year end bonus would make me sick to my stomach while they're throwing around daddy's billions...
@a2 not true. They said it is based on each state.
HR confirmed on a call today that this scenario, opting for severance, would disqualify you for unemployment.
I'm going to try because the RTO makes the job unsustainable for me. Whether I'll get it is another story.