EEOC Issues Technical Assistance Document On Waivers For Severance Agreements

(Published July 16, 2009)

 

Highlighting the "devastating impact" of age discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) held a public hearing on July 15 on recent developments under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), including the effect on older workers of widespread layoffs, threats to employee benefits, and controversial recent court decisions.  The Commission will consider expert panelists' proposals for regulatory and legislative action, and it issued a technical assistance document on waivers as part of severance agreements.

 

The EEOC's technical assistance document explains terminated employees' rights and obligations when offered severance pay in exchange for a waiver of discrimination claims.  The EEOC issued the document following a significant spike in age discrimination charges, and amid increased layoffs involving waivers of rights.