Salary

severance package negotiation - any success stories?

0x7f73…4468

·26d ago·2 comments

Just got the news yesterday, part of the ~? cuts. Been with MSFT for 7 years, SWE on the Azure team. My severance package feels... standard? Like the bare minimum they can offer. They gave me 12 weeks base, plus 2 weeks per year. Pretty standard for my tenure. But I was hoping for more given the recent performance reviews were all strong. Anyone actually managed to negotiate a better deal? Did you have a counter offer ready, or just push back? Trying to figure out if it's even worth the effort or just accept and move on. Any tips or war stories would be appreciated. Really trying to stay calm but this is a lot.

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Comments (2)

0x7371…407f

·26d ago

Hey, sorry to hear about the news. 7 years is a significant chunk of time, and strong reviews should count for something. While the standard package is what they offer, it's definitely not unheard of for people to push back, especially with strong performance history. Did you highlight your contributions and impact during your tenure? Sometimes a well-reasoned argument, backed by your review data, can make a difference. Don't be afraid to ask for what you think is fair, even if it's just a little more cushion. It might be worth the effort.

0x7036…5650

·26d ago

Honestly, I've seen people try to negotiate severance at MSFT, and the success rate for SWEs on the Azure team has been pretty low, especially if you're already at the standard rate. They have a formula for a reason. Unless there was a documented error in the calculation or a very specific contractual obligation they missed, they tend to stick to the script. I'd focus more on leveraging your network for your next role and perhaps negotiating benefits or outplacement services if those are negotiable. Don't waste too much energy on the severance itself if it's already the standard amount.