Review your employment contract, company policies, and any severance plan documents
Gather key facts about your role, tenure, performance, and termination circumstances
Identify what you want to negotiate: severance pay, benefits, bonus, equity, references, outplacement, non-compete, non-disparagement, release scope
Research typical severance terms for your industry, level, and location
Calculate a target package and a minimum acceptable package
Keep communication professional, calm, and brief
Ask for the severance terms in writing
Do not sign immediately
Request time to review the agreement
Consult an employment attorney before signing
Compare the offer against legal rights, unpaid wages, accrued vacation, commissions, and bonuses
Use leverage from strong performance, long tenure, or potential legal claims if applicable
Make specific counteroffers instead of vague requests
Prioritize the terms that matter most to you
Ask for continuation of health insurance or employer-paid COBRA
Ask for extended vesting or treatment of equity if applicable
Ask for a neutral or positive reference and agreed reference language
Ask for a mutually agreed separation date if helpful
Ask for payment timing in a lump sum or accelerated schedule
Ask for removal or narrowing of restrictive covenants if possible
Ask for confidentiality and non-disparagement terms to be mutual
Confirm that the agreement does not waive rights you do not intend to waive
Get all negotiated changes reflected in the final written agreement
Keep copies of all emails, drafts, and signed documents
Do not discuss your negotiation with coworkers
Be prepared to walk away if the terms are unacceptable and you have alternatives