Employer trying to change severance wording with salary increase
Hi all,
I'm in a really strange situation with my employer trying to change the wording on my severance, and I'm wondering what your thoughts are. I've been there a long time, so this makes a difference for me.
Original Version: 6 weeks’ salary, plus an additional 3 weeks for every completed year of employment beyond 2 years, up to a maximum of 16 weeks.
New Version: 6 weeks’ salary, plus an additional 3 weeks for every completed year of employment beyond 2 years, up to a combined maximum of 16 weeks in total.
I never carefully read my original wording before, and assumed it to compute the way they've proposed to rephrase it, where the formula is 6 + 3n, where (6 + 3n) <= 16 weeks (the grand total is 16 weeks max). But with them pushing for wording changes, I re-read my original language, which is leading me to also think the reader could interpret the original phrasing as 6 + 3n, where only 3n <= 16 weeks (making the grand total 22 weeks max). Am I crazy?
I know the change here is trivial, but by them trying to change the wording it's a pretty clear indication they recognize the original version could be interpreted differently from the interpretation that best serves them.
Should I push back and insist my original wording stays? Or is there no way anyone would award me 22 weeks anyway, making this a non-issue?
Thanks for your input!
I'm in a really strange situation with my employer trying to change the wording on my severance, and I'm wondering what your thoughts are. I've been there a long time, so this makes a difference for me.
Original Version: 6 weeks’ salary, plus an additional 3 weeks for every completed year of employment beyond 2 years, up to a maximum of 16 weeks.
New Version: 6 weeks’ salary, plus an additional 3 weeks for every completed year of employment beyond 2 years, up to a combined maximum of 16 weeks in total.
I never carefully read my original wording before, and assumed it to compute the way they've proposed to rephrase it, where the formula is 6 + 3n, where (6 + 3n) <= 16 weeks (the grand total is 16 weeks max). But with them pushing for wording changes, I re-read my original language, which is leading me to also think the reader could interpret the original phrasing as 6 + 3n, where only 3n <= 16 weeks (making the grand total 22 weeks max). Am I crazy?
I know the change here is trivial, but by them trying to change the wording it's a pretty clear indication they recognize the original version could be interpreted differently from the interpretation that best serves them.
Should I push back and insist my original wording stays? Or is there no way anyone would award me 22 weeks anyway, making this a non-issue?
Thanks for your input!
Last edited by dealsvic on Dec 1st, 2020 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.