Posttermination filings to protect your rights. The effect of termination on your receipt of benefits. Termination tips

Immediately after your termination. Remain calm. Ask probing questions. Remove all personal belongings at your earliest opportunity. Relinquish all keys and ID badges when requested. Record what was said in the termination meeting. Request a copy of your personnel file. Let your family and friends take care of you. If you need it, seek emotional counseling. Seek legal advice only from a knowledgeable lawyer. As soon as you are able, look for other work. Do not start cutting your own deal. Do not release your employer without consulting a lawyer. Do not write a letter of protest to the company. Do not start writing letters to your congressional delegation. Do not engage in physical harm. Do not remove anything that does not belong to you. Do not refuse to return property belonging to the employer. Do not immediately file an internal, nonunion grievance. Do not sign a confession. Do not try to handle it alone. Termination tips

Negotiating a severance agreement. How to get more severance.

The contents of your severance agreement. Severance tips list -- All about lawyers. How to find a lawyer. Engaging your lawyer -- Unlawful terminations. Public policy wrongful discharge. Wrongful constructive discharge. State statutory solutions. Discrimination laws. Opposition and retaliation statutes. Employment contracts -- Other legal claims. Intentional infliction of severe emotional distress. intentional interference with economic relations. Invasion of privacy. Defamation. Misrepresentation -- Termination of special group members. Termination of union workers. Termination of government employees -- Evaluating your termination case. Evaluating whether you have a case. Evaluating the problem of your case. Evaluating your case when the employer covers its tracks. Factors affecting your case. Other factors that can help -- Mistakes employers make. Top ten complaints -- Deciding whether to pursue your case. Your need for litigation. Your support from others for litigation. Your health. The effect on your marketability -- What to expect during litigation. Prefiling stage. Trial stage. Appeal stage --

Things you can do to help your lawyer win. Provide requested information in a timely manner. Stay in communication with your lawyer. Treat your lawyer as a member of your team. Be flexible with your schedule. Follow your lawyer's advice. Do not shoot the messenger. Try to control your relatives. Do not fall in love with your case. Do not pull any surprises. Keep the faith. Ways to help your lawyer win

Common questions about case settlement

Special rights and benefits legislation. Unemployment compensation. Health insurance legislation : Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Retirement legislation (ERISA). Notice of plant closure legislation. Employee leave legislation. Basic provisions. FMLA and the ADA

Steps to build your workplace power.