My Severance Offer Seems Too Low. Can I Negotiate for More?

September 15, 2026

You’ve worked for the same company for 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years. Then your employment ends—and your employer offers you a few weeks of severance.

You may be thinking:

“That’s it?”

You may feel that your years of service, experience, and contributions to the company should be worth more.

But here’s the important question:

Does your employer have to give you more?

The answer is not necessarily—and understanding the difference between what you are legally entitled to receive and what you may be able to negotiate is important.

Is My Employer Required to Give Me Severance?

Not necessarily.

Under Illinois law, employees generally are not automatically entitled to severance pay simply because their employment ends. Severance may be owed when an employer and employee have an agreement providing for it and the applicable conditions have been met.

So if your employer offers you six weeks of severance after 15 years of employment, you should not automatically assume that Illinois law requires the employer to pay you 15 years’ worth of severance.

But that does not mean you have to accept the first offer without considering your options.

Can I Negotiate My Severance?

Depending on the circumstances, a severance offer may be negotiable.

The fact that an employer made an initial offer does not necessarily mean that the offer is the final amount or that the employee cannot ask for different terms.

Your negotiating position may depend on many factors, including:

• Your length of employment;
• Your position and level of responsibility;
• Your compensation;
• Whether you have an employment agreement;
• Whether the employer has a severance policy or established practice;
• The circumstances surrounding your termination;
• Whether you may have potential employment-law claims;
• Whether you are being asked to release legal claims;
• Whether the agreement contains restrictive covenants;
• The amount of time you have to consider the agreement; and
• Other terms included in the proposed agreement.

There is no universal formula that determines how much severance an employee “should” receive.

Your Tenure May Be Relevant—But It Doesn’t Automatically Create a Legal Right to More Money

Imagine you’ve worked for a company for 12 years and receive an offer of eight weeks of severance.

It is understandable to think:

“After 12 years, I deserve more than this.”

That may be a reasonable starting point for a negotiation.

But your years of service alone do not necessarily create a legal entitlement to a particular severance amount.

Instead, tenure can be one factor to consider when evaluating the overall offer and negotiating strategy.

An attorney may also look at the rest of the agreement and the circumstances surrounding your departure.

Don’t Look at the Dollar Amount Alone

A severance agreement is often about much more than the amount of money being offered.

Before signing, look carefully at what you are being asked to give in exchange for the payment.

For example, a separation agreement may include provisions concerning:

• Release of potential legal claims;
• Confidentiality;
• Non-disparagement;
• Return of company property;
• Cooperation;
• References;
• Restrictive covenants;
• Non-solicitation obligations;
• Non-compete provisions; and
• Other post-employment obligations.

The value of an agreement should therefore be evaluated based on the entire package, not simply the number of weeks of pay.

What If I Believe I Have Potential Claims Against My Employer?

This is another reason to pause before signing.

If you believe you were terminated because of discrimination, retaliation, a protected leave request, or another potentially unlawful reason, that may be relevant to how you evaluate the agreement and whether you should negotiate its terms.

You should not assume that signing a severance agreement is simply a way to collect money you are already legally owed.

Depending on the language, you may be giving up legal claims in exchange for the severance payment.

That is why it can be important to understand what rights you may be releasing before you sign.

What Should I Do Before Signing?

If you receive a severance or separation agreement, consider taking these steps:

1. Read the entire agreement.

Don’t focus only on the amount of severance.

2. Check the deadline.

Your employer may give you a specific amount of time to accept the offer.

3. Don’t assume the first offer is your only option.

Depending on the circumstances, there may be room to negotiate the financial amount or other terms.

4. Gather your employment documents.

Your offer letter, employment agreement, compensation information, performance reviews, policies, and other relevant documents may help an attorney understand your situation.

5. Consider having an employment attorney review the agreement.

An attorney can help you understand what you are being offered, what you may be giving up, and whether there are terms worth negotiating.

What If I Worked There for Many Years?

If you’ve spent a significant portion of your career with one employer, it is understandable to have questions about whether the severance offer adequately reflects your tenure.

But there is no automatic rule that says:

“10 years of employment = X months of severance.”

The appropriate evaluation depends on the agreement, the employer’s policies, the circumstances of the separation, and other legal and practical considerations.

This is where individualized legal advice can be valuable.

Pietrucha Law Firm Can Help You Evaluate Your Severance Agreement

At Pietrucha Law Firm, Attorney Cynthia Pietrucha provides legal assistance involving severance and separation agreements.

The firm’s employment-law services include severance pay negotiations and separation agreement analysis and evaluation. The firm offers consultations for individuals who want to understand their options following a job separation.

Think Your Severance Offer Is Too Low?

Before signing away potential rights, make sure you understand the agreement you’re accepting.

Your severance offer is more than a number on a page. The terms attached to that payment may matter just as much.

If you’ve received a severance or separation agreement and want to discuss your options, visit Pietrucha Law Firm at https://pietruchalaw.com/ to learn more and schedule a confidential legal consultation.

Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC
1717 N. Naper Blvd., Suite 200
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 344-6370

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Whether an employee has a legal right to severance, or whether a severance offer can or should be negotiated, depends on the specific facts, agreements, policies, and applicable law. Consult an attorney regarding your individual situation.