SEPARATION / Severance
Don’t sign away your rights without expert guidance.
Understand your rights: Know what you are signing, and know what your options might be.
Oregon does not require employers to offer severance pay to the employees they terminate, but does require employers to abide by their companies' established wage policies – or specific employment contracts that have entered into with individual employees – that deal with severance pay and separation from employment.
Oregon law now restricts employers from pressuring an employee to sign severance agreements with certain clauses if the employee has made various reports, such as complaining about sexual harassment. In nearly all severance agreements, the employee is being asked to agree to a “general release” of their legal claims. As always, it is important to consult with an attorney before signing anything that may affect your rights.
