Are laid-off employees getting severance? How much, based on your tenure?
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For anyone comparing separation packages across regions, the statutory minimums can vary quite a bit. Company packages can be more generous.
Quick comparison - assuming 10 years of service:
- US: No general federal severance requirement; 2 weeks/year as a company/market practice would be 20 weeks (~4.6 months).
- UK: Statutory redundancy pay = 10 weeks’ pay (~2.3 months), subject to statutory weekly-pay caps for high earners.
- France: Minimum statutory severance = approx. 2.5 months’ salary (frequently enhanced by applicable collective bargaining agreements).
- Australia: 10 years of continuous service under NES = 12 weeks (~2.8 months).
- India: Statutory retrenchment compensation (15 days’ average pay/year) = 5 months’ pay for covered workers, plus applicable notice/pay.
- Philippines: 1 month’s pay or 1 month/year of service for redundancy, whichever is higher = 10 months’ pay, plus statutory final pay items like pro-rated 13th-month pay and unused leave conversion.
References:
- US: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-other/severancepay | https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/termination/plantclosings
- UK: https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights/redundancy-pay
- France: https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F987
- Australia: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/redundancy/redundancy-pay
- India: https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/364_2019_ls_eng_0.pdf
- Philippines: https://dole.gov.ph/book-6-post-employment/
Practical tips:
- Before signing, compare the offer against your local statutory entitlement and employment contract.
- Don’t feel pressured to accept the first offer.
- You can ask whether severance, notice, benefits, leave payout, or other terms are negotiable.
- Consider getting local legal advice if the amount is significant.
Do they offer 1-3 weeks per year or is it only 2 weeks of pay after last day of work.
Depending on your particular situation/location it’s definitely worth it to have an employment lawyer review the severance offer.
@f9 Only healthcare seems negotiable, at least in the Americas.
can you actually 'fight for' severance? do they really negotiate on that? what leverage do you have though?
severance figures from EMEA?
@ev how much were you making before that you got 200k holy
got almost 200k$. You should fight for it otherwise you're fu---d without limits.
Any cap to the 2 wks/yr?
Anyone can share from EMEA?
2 wks per yr