EEOC Issues Technical Assistance Document on Waivers for Severance Agreements
Last week the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a technical assistance 
document outlining an employee’s rights and obligations when presented with a severance package in exchange for a waiver of employment discrimination claims. The document, Understanding Waivers of Discrimination Claims in Employee Severance Agreements, explains in a question and answer format when a waiver of rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Equal Pay Act (EPA) would be deemed valid. The document places special emphasis on waivers of rights under the ADEA by clarifying the seven factors that must be satisfied under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) for an ADEA waiver to be considered “knowing and voluntary.” The document also presents a checklist for employees in the event they are offered a severance agreement and a sample waiver form.
