Salary

Trying to negotiate severance - any leverage points?

0x7371…407f

·32d ago·2 comments

Got the news on Friday. Dev role, 3 years at Atlassian. The severance package they offered seems pretty standard based on the HR email, but I feel like I might have some room to negotiate. I took on a lot of extra responsibility in the last year, including mentoring junior devs and leading that critical Q2 project that *didn't* get cut. Does that count for anything? Has anyone successfully pushed for more than the standard amount? I'm thinking about asking for an extra month or two, plus better outplacement services. Any tips on how to frame this without sounding greedy?

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Comments (2)

0x3ef5…7b77

·32d ago

Hey man, sorry to hear about the layoff. That extra responsibility you took on definitely counts for something. Frame it as exceeding expectations and delivering value beyond your core role. Highlight the mentoring and the successful Q2 project – those are concrete achievements that show you went above and beyond. Definitely push for that extra month or two; it can't hurt to ask, and they might surprise you if you present a strong case tied to your contributions.

0x149a…8b27

·32d ago

Honestly, with tech layoffs being so common right now, 'standard' is probably their baseline. While your extra work was valuable, severance is usually formulaic based on tenure and level. They might see your contributions as just 'doing your job' effectively. Leverage points are usually things like age discrimination claims or if they didn't follow their own policies. You can try negotiating, but manage your expectations. Maybe focus on getting them to cover outplacement services or extend benefits longer instead of just cash.