The first sentence on the above doc says: You are advised to consult with your attorney before signing your Severance Agreement and Release ("Release") ...... etc.
Is that really necessary? And, anyone done that in the past and if so why? If you are inclined to share and Tx.
You're not going to get a little extra something. Verizon is generous and not required to give you anything at all....why would they give you extra just because you asked? People ask every RIF, and the answer is always no. Take the money and RUN.
No, it is not necessary, but you have the option to do so. You are signing a contract so it never hurts to have legalize on something. But I guarantee you there are multitudes of lawyers that review these to ensure that Verizon is covered legally.
@ad it’s interesting you think only rock solid claims result in Vz pay outs.
Yes. It's necessary. I guarantee most don't know the nuances of the pkg/agreement.
@a9+1kakbmht5 -- TY sincerely for the thorough and thoughtful reply. I don't have a specific claim but want to ensure all i's and t's are crossed and have confidence in my agreement. Your overview of expected cost is helpful too and kinda what I expected.
What I didn't expect was your notion of possibly getting a little somethin-somethin extra with legal help. May be worth a shot. Very grateful for you and taking the time to respond to an anonymous poster on the internet.
Kindness and helpfulness give me hope -- Life outside Vz may be grander than I imagine.
They want you to consult an attorney to confirm you have zero leg to stand on. Take it or get nothing. You can try a lawsuit but you better have deep pockets and a rock solid case because you will likely lose due to the money involved in the process, regardless of the validity of your claim. Verizon is actually generous with severance which cannot be said about a lot of other companies.
Unless you have really solid claim that you were targeted and have strong paper trail to prove it, attorney review wont do much. However, it does not hurt to ask for more, on your own. They wont change policy for one individual. So do not expect to get 3 weeks, while the policy says 2 per year. However you can ask for additional quarter of healthcare or any other specific mentioned in your package.
All being said, please talk to an attorney who specialize in labor and employment. Ask friends and family for reference. Search for "NELA org" if you prefer anonymous. While not necessary, please talk to an attorney to review the document for you. Don't have high hope, but the $250-300 for 1 hr is worth it. Have them write a letter to VZ asking for extra health care or anything else that matters to you. Be very prepared when you talk to an attorney. First 15 min is free, they charge hourly after that. Very helpful in few ways. Some folks found it easier way to break the news to social circle, in the pretext of seeking attorney reference. Also a letter from an attorney has higher chance of drawing attention, and securing extra something. Good luck. Take it from a stranger who has nothing to do with NELA or VZ, heal quickly and move on.
I received a severance in 2024 in NJ from a different organization. I didn’t consult with an attorney. I did though read it carefully.
If you need clarity on certain sections, run it through chatgpt.