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Comment by anon543210 | Hacker News Reader

This actually happened to me as well. I was released about one month prior to my shares vesting, but they didn't contest my unemployment. Still its a real bs thing to do. I wish I could say something publicly and let others know about the mess that place was but I decided against it. They also made me sign papers prior to getting my final check and vacation pay that said I wouldn't take any action against them.

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Almost certainly they didn't make you. The law says they have to pay you when they terminate you. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-...

They likely offered you an inducement (severance pay) in exchange for you agreeing to a contract that precludes disparagement or other action. If they did coerce or force you into signing, the contract is null and void and you should see an attorney.

Were you offered any severance above and beyond your due wages?

>They likely offered you an inducement (severance pay) in exchange for you agreeing to a contract that precludes disparagement or other action.

Yes this was the case.

This was my experience too. I took the vacation pay but passed on signing the non-disparagement paperwork. The later paperwork was offered with a couple of weeks of pay incentive.

California law requires them to pay your final paycheck and cash out vacation pay on your last day of employment. They don't have any option. They coerced you into signing and gave you nothing in exchange. You can probably get the agreement voided on that basis, depends on having a good lawyer and sympathetic judge.

Pretty sure (IANAL) that is coercion. And a coerced signature is void.

Why did you sign something like that???

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