My previous company overpaid me severance. I did sign a contract that I would not sue them in exchange for 6 weeks of severance pay. I was paid unemployment also. I dedicated 14 years of service with them and my position was eliminated from the company's

My previous company overpaid me severance. I did sign a contract that I would not sue them in exchange for a certain number of weeks in severance pay. I was paid unemployment also. I dedicated over 10 years of service with them and my position was eliminated from the company's structure. I was treated poorly toward the end after personally meeting with the HR VP and inquiring if we would be receiving severance to which I was told we wouldn't. I had asked if they could put our last day in writing since they kept verbally extending it. I was also told that they would not put it in writing. I was told that the position was eliminated due to the fact that they could hire two less experienced mgrs for the position instead. The company the year before had changed my position to hourly from salary due to a federal change in law that raised the salary level. I can't prove this however I found it quite strange that they also changed the policy on sick time which they counted that time accrued against the employee's attendance which led to previous terminations in the past. I received a letter last month indicating that they mailed me 2 previous letters about the overpayment(which I didn't receive) and that they now want the GROSS overpayment, not the net (yet my W2 for 2017 reflects the taxes deducted)& that they would report the overpayment as income in 2018 & that I would be required by the IRS to repay the overpayment. This employer never tried calling me which they have all my contact information as well as my email which I didn't get any from them regarding this. I do not trust them nor do they have a good favorability rating in employee satisfaction. Am I able to negotiate with them still at this point and let them know it was their mistake ? The other thing....I received notice of a medical illness (considered a disability)right before my position ended and really wasn't aware at all of the overpayment. I actually went through much hardship immediately after becoming unemployed and do not have the overpayment since it was spent to keep my home and on living expenses as well as health insurance. What can I do?

0 answers  |  asked May 15, 2018 4:20 PM [EST]  |  applies to Illinois