Separation Agreements in Kansas City

When you leave the company you work for, you may be asked to sign a separation agreement, which lays out the terms of your leave from the company in order for the employer to be released from any binding claims within the employee’s employment contract. Included in a typical separation agreement may be the terms by which you left the job, a severance package, a non-compete agreement, a confidentiality agreement, and more. More often than not, employees who are being laid off simply sign such separation agreements without reading or fully understanding them, and in so doing are denied compensation or rights that they should have taken advantage of. Before you sign a separation agreement, call an attorney to look it over it to see if it is really in your best interest.

You are Giving Up Your Rights by Signing the Agreement

Your employer wants you to sign the separation agreement because such an agreement will inevitably take away your right to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. It could prevent you from working for one of their competitors by including a non-compete agreement. The separation agreement may also include a non-disclosure agreement, and even rob you of your accrued vacation pay. Because of this, it is important to understand what the agreement says and to ensure that you benefit from it, as well.

Does Your Separation Agreement Include a Reasonable Severance Package?

The number one reason to hire an attorney to help with your separation package is the severance package. Not all severance packages include financial compensation. In fact, some simply ‘allow’ you to be paid for your paid time off of accrued vacation days and your final wages. A severance package that benefits you, on the other hand, may be something that you are forced to fight for. In these cases, you need an attorney who has strong negotiating experience and knows how to deliver for their clients when going up against small to large employers. While the Department of Labor does not mandate that employers provide employees severance pay, it does have laws in place for enforcing payment when severance pay has not been paid out to the employee.

Experienced Kansas City Employment Attorneys Who Will Fight on Your Behalf

If you have been offered an unfair separation agreement, our Kansas City attorneys here at HKM Employment Attorneys will negotiate on your behalf to ensure that your future is not put on hold simply because your employer was able to take advantage. We will help you receive a fair severance package if none has been offered, and will work to keep damaging contracts, such as a non-compete agreement, limited or cut from the separation agreement. We have more than 40 years of experience serving employees and are here for you at this crucial turning point in your life and career. Call us today for assistance.