What Is a Severance Package Review?

A severance package review is a lawyer’s assessment of your termination offer, employment contract and legal rights before you sign.

Our employment lawyers look beyond the number of weeks or months offered. We review the full package to identify missing compensation, explain the conditions and determine whether you are owed more.

You’ll understand what you’re being offered, how it compares with your legal entitlement and what accepting it means for you. From there, you can decide whether to accept the offer or pursue changes.

What Does Our Severance Review Cover?

Your employment contract and termination clause

We review your employment agreement, amendments and any termination clause your employer relies on. Don’t assume a clause limits your severance just because you signed the contract. Its wording and enforceability need to be assessed.

We check your minimum entitlements under employment standards legislation and whether your contract or common law entitles you to more. Your employment history, age, role and prospects for comparable work can all matter. Severance packages can total as much as 24 months’ pay.

Our severance pay guide explains the broader rules. Your review applies them to your own situation.

Salary, bonuses, benefits and other compensation

We check salary, outstanding wages, vacation pay, bonuses, commissions, benefits and employer pension or retirement contributions. Where relevant, we also review stock options, restricted share units and other equity awards.

A package based only on salary can leave valuable compensation out. We assess what you would have received during the applicable notice period and whether enforceable terms limit those rights. Senior employees can also read about executive severance packages.

Lump-sum payments and salary continuance

We check when payments are due, which benefits continue and what happens if you find another job. Salary-continuance payments may stop or decrease under a re-employment clause, while a lump-sum offer can contain repayment conditions.

You should know how much of the package is guaranteed before accepting it.

Releases and other conditions

We explain the claims you would give up and any obligations that continue after your employment ends. These can include confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-solicitation, non-compete and repayment terms.

A valid release can prevent you from pursuing more compensation or other claims it covers. Learn more about full and final releases.

The circumstances of your dismissal

Tell us if your dismissal followed a medical leave, accommodation request, pregnancy or workplace complaint, or if your employer alleges misconduct. Those facts can raise issues beyond the amount of severance offered.

Given a Deadline to Sign Your Severance Package?

Your employer’s severance deadline does not erase your legal rights.

You don’t lose your right to the severance you are legally owed simply because you don’t sign by your employer’s deadline. A deadline to accept an offer is not the same as a legal deadline to pursue your severance.

A particular offer can expire or be withdrawn. That is different from losing your right to pursue the compensation you are legally owed.

Before you accept, let Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review your package and explain what you’re owed.

Have My Severance Package Reviewed

How Do You Get Your Severance Package Reviewed?

1. Tell us what happened. Use the form on this page or call 1-855-821-5900. Share where you work, what your employer offered and any signing deadline. Our team will explain your consultation options and any fee before you book.
2. Get clear advice. During your consultation, an employment lawyer reviews your offer and relevant documents, explains your rights and answers your questions.
3. Decide what comes next. Once you understand the package, you can decide how to proceed. If you retain us for further work, we can negotiate with your employer and pursue legal action where appropriate. We’ll explain the work and fees before you agree to proceed.

A review helps you make an informed decision. It doesn’t mean you have to take your employer to court. Read more about negotiating a severance package.

What Documents Should You Prepare?

Have these documents ready, where available:

• Your termination letter, severance offer and proposed release
• Your employment contract, original offer letter and later amendments
• Recent pay statements and bonus, commission, benefits, pension or equity documents
• Relevant messages about your dismissal, payment terms and signing deadline

Keep records you are entitled to retain. You don’t need every document to get in touch. Tell our team what you have, and we’ll explain what is needed for your review.

Severance Package Review: Common Questions

How much does a severance package review cost?

Some severance matters qualify for a free consultation. Others involve a consultation fee. We’ll explain any cost before you book, so you know what to expect.

If you choose to retain us for further legal work, we’ll discuss the services and fee arrangement with you before proceeding. See our fee options.

Is a review worthwhile if the offer looks generous?

Yes. An offer above employment standards minimums can still fall short of your full entitlement. We check the complete package, including payment conditions and the release, and explain whether seeking changes makes sense.

What if I already signed the release?

Contact us with the signed agreement and tell us what happened. A valid release can prevent further claims, but its wording and the circumstances of signing matter. We can assess whether you have grounds to challenge it.

Can I contact you if I wasn’t offered severance?

Yes. Your employer offering nothing doesn’t decide what you’re owed. We can assess your termination, employment contract and compensation rights even without a severance offer.

What if my employer says I was fired for cause?

Don’t assume you are owed nothing. Our lawyers can assess the allegation, the evidence and whether notice or compensation is still owed. Learn more about termination for cause.

Can you review an offer before my last day of work?

Yes. Contact us as soon as you receive an offer or notice that your job will end. You don’t need to wait until your employment has ended.

Can you help with a unionized workplace?

Our employment law team represents non-union employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. For a unionized termination or severance dispute, contact your union.

Know What You’re Owed Before You Sign

You don’t have to assess your employer’s offer on your own. Let Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review your severance package, explain your rights and help you take the next step.

Request My Severance Review

Or call 1-855-821-5900.