The Layoff Podcast with Fexingo: Severance, Job Loss, and Bouncing Back from Termination

Lucas and Luna dive into the unique challenges of surviving a mass reduction in force or RIF. Unlike a personal layoff where you can negotiate one-on-one, mass RIFs come with standardised severance formulas, accelerated timelines, and often a signed waiver that bars you from suing. They walk through the typical 2-weeks-per-year-of-service rule, what happens to unvested stock grants, and the crucial 21-day review window under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. Using the 2023-2024 tech layoff wave as a backdrop, with examples from companies like Meta and Google, they break down the key tactical questions to ask HR, when it makes sense to sign the agreement immediately versus waiting the full 21 days, and how to prepare your personal finances during the quiet period. They also discuss the emotional whiplash of surviving multiple rounds, only to get cut in a later wave.

#Severance #MassLayoffs #RIF #ReductionInForce #Layoffs #TechLayoffs #EmploymentLaw #OWBPA #WorkforceReduction #Negotiation #HR #CareerAdvice #JobLoss #BouncingBack #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LayoffPodcast #Careers

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In episode 33 of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a little-discussed but increasingly common severance benefit: paid career coaching. They break down why companies are adding it, how to ask for it if it's not offered, and what to look for in a coaching program. Using the example of a marketing director at a midsize tech firm who secured twelve weeks of coaching in her severance, they offer a concrete template for negotiation. They also discuss the rising trend of companies partnering with outplacement firms like RiseSmart and LHH, and why the right coach can be worth more than an extra week of pay. Whether you're facing a layoff or just want to sharpen your negotiation skills, this episode gives you a practical script and a strategic framework.

#Severance #CareerCoaching #Layoffs #Negotiation #Outplacement #RiseSmart #LHH #JobLoss #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LayoffPodcast #SeverancePackage #CareerTransition #JobSearch #EmploymentLaw #HRStrategy #EmploymentBenefits

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In Episode 32 of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle garden leave — the paid notice period that keeps you on payroll but out of the office. Lucas explains why companies use it to protect trade secrets, citing a 2024 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research that found garden leave reduces competitor poaching by 18 percent. Luna shares a real-world case: a product manager at a fintech startup who received three months of garden leave, then used the time to complete a data science certification. They break down how garden leave differs from severance, whether you can negotiate its length, and why it's common in finance and tech. Lucas cautions that garden leave can delay your next job start, but Luna counters that it's essentially paid runway to upskill or network. The episode ends with practical advice on what to ask for if your employer offers garden leave instead of a lump-sum severance. A donation segment woven naturally into the conversation reminds listeners that buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo keeps the show ad-free.

#GardenLeave #Severance #Layoffs #NonCompete #EmploymentLaw #CareerPivot #JobSearch #Negotiation #EmployeeRights #TechLayoffs #FinanceCareers #WorkplacePolicy #TradeSecrets #PaidNotice #CareerAdvice #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Lucas and Luna dig into a surprising trap that catches many laid-off workers: the way severance payments can delay or reduce state unemployment benefits. Using the example of a mid-level marketing manager in California who received a lump-sum severance of $30,000, they explain the difference between severance paid as a lump sum versus paid out over time, and how each state's rules—like California's 'waiting week' and New York's 'application of severance before benefits'—change the math. They also discuss the concept of 'severance substitution' in union contracts and what happens when your former employer disputes your unemployment claim. Specific, practical, and anchored in real-world rules.

#Severance #UnemploymentBenefits #Layoff #JobLoss #Careers #EmploymentLaw #StateUnemployment #CaliforniaUnemployment #NewYorkUnemployment #LumpSum #UI #JobSearch #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheLayoffPodcast #SeveranceTrap #WorkerRights #HR

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle a growing but under-discussed scenario: what to do when you're laid off with severance — and then your former employer misses payroll, delaying or threatening the payout. They walk through a real case from early 2026 involving a mid-size tech firm in Austin that furloughed 200 employees, promised four weeks' severance, then failed to pay on schedule. Lucas breaks down the legal distinction between severance as a contractual obligation versus a gratuity, the role of state wage laws, and the specific steps to take — including filing a wage claim, checking for WARN Act protections, and leveraging group action. Luna pushes on whether the risk is higher at VC-backed startups versus profitable private companies, and the hosts share practical advice on how to vet a company's financial health before accepting a severance agreement. The episode closes with a brief, sincere mention of listener support — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — and a forward-looking question about whether severance itself needs regulatory reform.

#Severance #Layoff #Payroll #WageClaim #EmploymentLaw #WARNAct #StartupRisk #VentureCapital #JobLoss #SeveranceDelay #AustinTech #PayrollMiss #EmployeeRights #Careers #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheLayoffPodcast

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna dig into a question that rarely gets asked until it's too late: what happens when your severance agreement includes a non-compete clause? They walk through the real-world case of a mid-level product manager at a Boston tech firm who signed a standard severance package, only to discover that the non-compete barred her from working at any competitor in the region for 12 months — including the job offer she'd already accepted. Lucas breaks down why non-competes are increasingly common in severance agreements, how states like California and Colorado have banned them while others haven't, and the specific language you should look for before signing. Luna shares data from a 2025 FTC study showing that roughly one in five severance agreements now contain some form of non-compete or non-solicit clause. They discuss practical strategies: asking for a waiver, negotiating a carve-out for a specific industry, or pushing for a shorter duration. This episode gives you the exact questions to ask your attorney and the red-flag phrases that should make you pause before cashing that check.

#Severance #NonCompete #JobLoss #CareerAdvice #EmploymentLaw #Layoff #Termination #EmployeeRights #FTC #CaliforniaLaw #ColoradoLaw #BostonTech #ProductManager #NonSolicit #Negotiation #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

This episode digs into a specific severance trap: the non-solicit clause. Lucas and Luna walk through a real case of a marketing director who couldn't contact former clients for six months after her layoff. They explain what non-solicits typically cover, how they differ from non-competes, and three strategies you can use before signing: narrowing the definition of 'client', limiting the time window, and carving out a specific list of contacts you can keep. The hosts also cover what to do if you've already signed and need to pivot your job search to avoid triggering the clause. Plus, Lucas shares a negotiation tactic he learned from an employment lawyer: asking HR to state in writing that the non-solicit does not apply to general professional listings or LinkedIn outreach. No fluff, just one concrete angle with actionable steps.

#Severance #NonSolicit #JobLoss #Layoff #EmploymentLaw #Careers #Negotiation #JobSearch #NonCompete #ExitPackage #HR #WorkplaceRights #Termination #JobTransition #EmployeeRights #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheLayoffPodcast

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle one of the most stressful severance scenarios: being terminated for cause. They break down what 'for cause' actually means in legal terms, how it differs from being laid off, and why it may or may not disqualify you from severance. Using the example of a real case from 2025 involving a senior marketing director at a mid-sized tech firm, Lucas explains the concept of the 'for cause' carve-out in employment agreements and the importance of reviewing your employment contract and state law. Luna pushes back on the idea that cause is always clear-cut, sharing a story about a warehouse manager whose termination was later overturned. They discuss what to do if you receive a for-cause termination letter, including not signing immediately, consulting an attorney, and negotiating a neutral reference. The episode ends with a forward-looking question about how employers might abuse the 'for cause' label in a tight labor market.

#Severance #TerminationForCause #EmploymentLaw #EmployeeRights #JobLoss #SeverancePackage #LandmarkEmployment #Legal #LaborLaw #Careers #Layoffs #SeveranceNegotiation #WrongfulTermination #EmploymentContract #SeveranceAgreement #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheLayoffPodcast

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The Layoff Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna tackle a rarely discussed angle: what happens to your severance package when you relocate to another country. They walk through the case of a marketing manager who received a severance from a US employer while moving to Portugal, and explain the tax traps, legal hurdles, and practical steps like double-tax treaties, bank account complications, and health insurance gaps. Lucas breaks down the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, the difference between statutory and contractual severance abroad, and why timing your move can save or cost you thousands. Luna pushes back on common assumptions about international severance, asking whether the company's obligation changes when you leave the country. The hosts also touch on the broader trend of remote workers taking severance as a 'bridge' to a new life overseas, and share a listener story about a severance that was delayed six months due to a Portuguese NIF number issue. This episode is anchored in real-world specifics, not generic advice. No fluff, no filler — just a clear-eyed conversation about a situation more professionals face than any career guide admits.

#SeveranceAbroad #ExpatFinance #InternationalRelocation #TaxTreaty #ForeignEarnedIncomeExclusion #PortugalMove #RemoteWork #LayoffPlan #CareerPivot #OverseasMove #DigitalNomad #TaxPlanning #JobLoss #ExpatLife #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LayoffPodcast

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 25 of The Layoff Podcast explores a fresh angle: using severance as seed capital to start a side business while you job search. Lucas and Luna walk through the story of a marketing manager who turned her $35,000 severance package into a freelance content agency, netting $5,000 per month within six months. They discuss the tax implications (severance is ordinary income, and self-employment adds a 15.3 percent self-employment tax), the importance of separating business expenses from personal funds, and how to approach a 1099 role while still collecting severance. They also address the hidden risk: many severance agreements contain non-compete clauses that can block launching in the same industry. Specific numbers, real-world examples, and actionable steps — including setting up an LLC for liability protection and using solo 401(k) contributions to offset taxes. No theory, just a concrete path for anyone considering a pivot during their severance window.

#Severance #SideBusiness #Freelance #CareerPivot #SelfEmployment #TaxStrategy #NonCompete #LLC #Solo401k #1099 #JobLoss #Layoff #Careers #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #LayoffPodcast #Entrepreneurship #PassiveIncome

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo