May I collect severance pay if I find new employment prior to my involuntary termination date?

I have been notified that my office will close in six months, terminating my position. By company policy, I am thereby eligible for severance pay. I am not required to stay through the closing date if I find other employment before then. (edited to add: I do not have an employment contract that spells out severance terms; severance is addressed in the employment policy handbook, and is granted for involuntary termination only. Having been advised of an impending involuntary termination, does leaving for another job then make my termination "voluntary", disqualifying me for severance pay? If my job were not being eliminated, I wouldn't be looking for another one.

1 answer  |  asked Jan 21, 2013 6:23 PM [EST]  |  applies to North Carolina

Answers (1)

Reagan Weaver
I am not certain of the law on this question; however, from my experience with these types of situations, it has usually been spelled out in the severance documents that you are required to sign. Those documents usually ask you to do or refrain from doing certain things in exchange for the severance pay. In essence, they are contracts between you and your employer, so you either accept them as they present them or you attempt to modify them to your liking. There are a number of employment attorneys in the Charlotte area if you want to seek legal advice about your particular severance documents.

posted by Reagan Weaver  |  Jan 21, 2013 8:15 PM [EST]

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