What to Negotiate Beyond the Severance Check

When a severance offer arrives, it is natural to focus on the headline number. That number is only one part of what is typically negotiable, and in some cases it is not even the most financially significant part.

The full list of what is commonly negotiable

Beyond the base severance amount, several other elements are routinely open for discussion:

• Continued health insurance coverage, often structured as a COBRA premium subsidy for a set number of months
• Payout of any unused paid time off
• Treatment of unvested equity, including whether any acceleration applies
• Any pending or prorated bonus or commission
• Outplacement services, including career coaching or job search support
• The specific wording of your reference and departure announcement

Why COBRA is worth particular attention

Health insurance continuation is one of the most financially significant items on this list, and one of the easiest to overlook in the moment. COBRA premiums, paid without an employer subsidy, can represent a genuinely large monthly cost at exactly the moment your income has stopped. Asking a company to cover or subsidize several months of COBRA is one of the more commonly recommended negotiation points precisely because of this.

Why reference wording matters more than people expect

The language used in a reference or departure announcement can meaningfully affect your next job search. A neutral, factual departure description is generally preferable to language that could be read as negative, even subtly, by a future employer conducting a reference check.

Frequently asked questions

Can I negotiate severance terms other than the dollar amount? Yes. Health coverage, PTO payout, equity treatment, and reference language are all commonly negotiated alongside, or sometimes instead of, the base severance figure.

Is it normal to ask for COBRA subsidy specifically? Yes, this is one of the more frequently recommended and commonly granted negotiation points, particularly for larger layoffs.

Should I get everything in writing? Yes. Any negotiated terms should be reflected in the final written severance agreement before you sign, not left as a verbal understanding.