Severance & Termination Agreements

Florida Employment Lawyer Whittel & Melton

After you are terminated from employment at your job, it is not uncommon for your employer to present a severance agreement for you to review and sign. However, before you sign anything, our Florida Severance Agreement & Termination Lawyers at Whittel & Melton urge you to call us first so that we can best protect your rights.

You can be terminated from your job for a plethora of reasons, and because Florida is generally on an at-will basis, this means that employers are free to let go of employees at any time, regardless of cause.

When employees are terminated, employers will often draft a severance or separation agreement. Like most legal documents, severance agreements can be lengthy and complex. Basically, these contracts restrict an employee from bringing any lawsuits for discrimination, retaliation, or harassment. The truth is these documents are so fluffed up with legal patter that it makes them next to impossible to understand unless you are an attorney.

Don’t Mistake A Severance Agreement As a Gift

Many employees quickly sign these agreements because they often offer some type of payout. You should know that most of these agreements restrict your ability to work as they contain what is known as a “non-compete” clause, which forbids an employee to work for a competitor or from performing similar job duties in the same area. Don’t let a small amount of money bar you from filing a legal claim. Again, before you sign anything, please call us at 866-608-5529 so that you understand all of your options.

Think Before You Sign

When your employer wishes to end employment with you, they may provide you with a severance agreement or termination agreement and make you feel that you have to sign it. When it comes to separation or termination agreements, many employers pressure the employee to quickly sign the agreement. However, you should never feel like you have to sign something right away without understanding the details and how it will impact you. Yes, your employer may be offering you monetary compensation, but the details of the agreement could affect your future employment ventures. By signing, you are entering into a legally binding contract that may waive your rights to making any legal claims against your employer. Signing could also mean your employer is released from any potential future legal claims.

Lots of workers think that they have to sign these agreements “as is,” which is certainly not the case. No employee has to sign a termination or severance agreements without first consulting an attorney. If your employer has presented you with a separation agreement, let our Florida Employment Lawyers at Whittel & Melton help you decide on the best course of action. We can make sure you understand whether you would be better off signing the agreement, negotiating a better severance package or argue the reason of the termination in itself.

Employment contracts usually have some type of restrictive content in them, such as non-compete and non-solicitation clauses. Some of these clauses are reasonable, and some are just unfair. When an employee is terminated, they should still have the right to continue to work and make a living. Our Florida Employment Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know that many employment contracts are unreasonable. We can advise you on your rights and what you can do to better your situation. If you think your non-compete or non-solicitation agreement is unfair, call us at 866-608-5529 tofind out what legal action can be taken.

Call Today For A Free Consultation – 866-608-5529

If you have been fired and were offered a severance agreement, let a Florida Employment Lawyer at Whittel & Melton go over your options with you before you sign any documents. Depending on your unique situation, we may be able to help you negotiate a better severance package. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.