What Is Voluntary Resignation Severance Pay?

Severance pay is an amount some employers pay to employees upon their termination. The usual reasons for severance pay include involuntary separation, such as job elimination, layoff or business closure. However, there are instances where employees who voluntarily resign receive severance packages. The amount of severance pay varies, depending on the company's financial condition, the employee's length of service to the organization and the purpose of the termination. For example, a severance package for job elimination might be slightly more generous than a severance package offered to employees when a business is closing due to financial struggles.

Early retirement and buyouts are forms of voluntary resignation precipitated by an employer's announcement that separation or severance pay is available to employees who voluntarily resign. Many companies entice employees with early retirement packages or buyouts to reduce the size of their workforce and minimize continued high compensation costs. They offer certain employees the opportunity to voluntarily resign in exchange for a severance package, continuation of benefits and other monetary consideration. Some early retirement and buyouts are very lucrative; for some employees it could make sense to accept the package in lieu of working another three to five years. Additionally, some severance packages may be structured so they don't affect the employee's qualification for unemployment benefits.

In some cases, the employer and employee reach a mutual agreement about severance pay at the beginning of the relationship. These agreements aren't uncommon, and they include terms and conditions that apply once the employee resigns. The agreement also may describe how the employer will calculate severance pay or what amount of severance pay is due when the employee voluntarily resigns. Well-publicized "golden parachutes" are examples of voluntary resignation severance payments to executives who receive generous payments upon their departure from the company.

There are no laws that require employers to provide severance pay, and there are few practices that provide for severance pay to be paid to employees who voluntarily resign. In certain cases, however, some employees may be entitled to severance pay when they leave the company voluntarily. Payments for voluntary resignation could result from an employer's request for volunteers, while others are part of an employment agreement negotiated before the employee started work.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission strongly recommends that employers follow guidelines for ensuring their severance agreements inform employees of their rights. Most severance agreements require employees to waive the right to hold the employer liable for wrongful discharge. Long-term employees may be over 40 years of age, who are afforded protection under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. The EEOC is particularly concerned that employers construct severance agreements with the ADEA and the OWBPA in mind.

Employees who are offered early retirement or buyouts should carefully consider the details and ramifications of receiving a lump sum payment and benefits in exchange for quitting their jobs. As many severance payments are tendered in a large check, the taxable amount can be significantly higher than the employee's paycheck. Incremental payments may reduce the sting of high tax rates. On the other hand, a Delaware court refused to order a bankrupt employer to pay the amounts it promised for benefits on behalf of an employee who took early retirement. The court in Aclin US Holding's bankruptcy matter concluded the employer's promise to pay for the employee's benefits weren't subject to federal rules governing employee retiree benefits; they were simply part of the employee termination. If your company ultimately closes or becomes insolvent, you risk losing future payments.