Severance
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Related to Severance: severance agreement
Severance
A settlement received after being released from a corporation. In the context of corporate governance, an agreement that assures high-level executives of their postions or some compensation and are not contingent upon a change in control.
Copyright © 2012, Campbell R. Harvey. All Rights Reserved.
Severance
A payment often (but not always) made in a lump sum that occurs when an employee is laid off or fired. Severance is sometime voluntary; that is, an employee may choose to quit and take a severance that is offered instead of staying and risking a layoff with no severance. The amount of severance is determined by the employee's length of time at the company, previous pay rate, and other factors. Accepting a severance makes one ineligible to collect unemployment insurance or to initiate a wrongful termination lawsuit. A severance exists in order to reduce the risk of the company when layoffs become necessary and to improve employee morale.
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