Severance Package

[Anonymous]

My DH is being laid off from a gov contractor. He worked there for 8 years in a mid-level job and is getting 6 weeks severance. I know they don't need to give him severance but that seems really short. Any ideas what the standard severance package is these days? Anyone successful at negotiating more?

[Anonymous]

Many companies have caps on their severance packages, such that someone at the company for 4 years gets just as much as someone there for 8 or 10.

[Anonymous]

Shit, when I was laid off in 2001 I got 2 weeks notice.

[Anonymous]

I think standard is they give you the equivalent of the notice you would have to give them. For example if you had to give them 1 month based on your position, they would give you one month of severance or notice. There are companies that offer more based on years of service but I don't know how common that is anymore. I've also seen executive positions offer more severance.

[Anonymous]

Thats 8 weeks longer than most

[Anonymous]

good luck negotiating more. Most companies that I have worked for (3 govt contractors) have set policies that they adhere to.
At my company it is 1 week pay for each year of service to a max of 8 weeks.
Sounds pretty similar to your situation.

[Anonymous]

I've never gotten less than 3 months. Negotiate. All they can do is say no.

[Anonymous]

HR person here... if it is not written in your policy and procedures guide you don't have a lot to go on... although you should always ask for more. Best practices are between one to two weeks of pay for each year of service. At a minimum I would ask 8 weeks to follow the lower amount of this rule. As an employer I have given more due to the economy and the difficulty in getting other jobs. I would suggest that your husband go back to his manager and HR and request one week per year of service as severance. I would include that it will be extremely difficult for your family to have less than 8 weeks pay, and that most job searches take at least 8 weeks if not much longer in this economy. I would also ask them to pay your COBRA costs for at least 8 weeks as well. good luck!