Employment Lawyer Urges 3 Steps for Workers Weighing 60,000-Employee Buyouts

1 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Nov 3

Craig Levey said employees offered buyouts should first dissect the contract—covering payout size, payment timing, benefits, PTO, no-rehire terms and whether they could still collect unemployment under state rules.
His second step is to judge layoff risk if they refuse, because buyout programs often signal more cuts ahead even when companies frame them as restructuring.
Levey said workers should then decide whether to accept, reject or try to negotiate, though leverage may be limited in broad programs like Microsoft's offer to about 60,000 employees.
Potential discrimination or retaliation can strengthen a worker's hand, he said, making an employment lawyer useful before signing; he also urged attention to response deadlines and year-end tax consequences.
The advice underscores the tradeoff at the center of buyouts: near-term cash and benefits may help workers already planning to leave, but can be a poor deal for employees expecting years more employment in a weak job market.