The Severance Agreement, Decoded

STOP. Don't Sign Anything Yet: The Severance Agreement, Decoded The complete fillable workbook

They handed you a severance agreement, a pen, and a deadline. They are counting on you not to understand half the words on the page.

I do. For 30 plus years I was the HR executive who wrote those agreements. I know what every line is doing, which ones quietly cost you, and exactly what to ask for instead. Now I am handing you the pen.

This is not a pep talk and it is not theory. It is a working document you fill in as you read your own offer, line by line, so you walk into the conversation with proof instead of fear.

What is inside the pages:

A plain English glossary, so no clause can hide behind a fancy word again.

The clause by clause decode. For every dangerous line you see the weak version, why it quietly costs you, the strong version to ask for, and the exact words to say.

A full executive section. Equity acceleration, the double trigger, change of control multiples by level, and the 280G tax trap that can shrink a payout by six figures if no one catches it. With real numbers.

A negotiation worksheet, ready to use scripts, and a fill in the blank email you can send today.

Severance is rarely required by law. That means it is negotiable. An agreement is a yes or a no. It is never a maybe. You just have to stop being afraid to ask.

"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." Proverbs 22:3 KJV

Read it before you sign. Then sign nothing until it is fair.

Faith-led. HR-rooted. Truth-told.

This workbook is educational and is not legal or tax advice. For your specific agreement, consult a licensed attorney and a tax advisor.