Clarify separation agreement with confidentiality clause in terms of unemployment interview.

If I signed a separation agreement as part of a severance package that includes a confidentiality clause can I answer questions in my unemployment interview without violating the agreement and losing my severance?




I left my job because of abusive, hostile and demeaning actions taken by a supervisor that made my work environment intolerable. These actions were a retaliatory response the supervisor made after I complained about them with HR.

This supervisor then changed my job description, title, authority and responsibilities in response. Additionally directing me to change the way that I did my job, against professional advice and opposite of how this job was customarily handled in previous years.

I believe the change in requirements were intended to cause a loss of proficiency in the skills of my profession. And were done to abuse or harass me with the intent of setting me up for perceived failure damaging my professional reputation and allowing this person to have cause to fire me later.

I worked there for over a decade and had a solid reputation for doing a quality job. After this serious of incidents I worked for weeks with HR to find a peaceful resolution, including asking for a transfer and that they not support her actions. I was told a transfer was not possible. My employer offered me a separation agreement and promised to not contest unemployment. I was told that I had not done anything wrong and this was a voluntary quit.



In your experience, should I be able to qualify for unemployment under these terms?

I understand that I can't qualify without showing that I had just cause to leave an intolerable environment.

The agreement says that I can't discuss any terms of the separation or the existence of an agreement.

Would I be allowed to discuss this under the section of exceptions for "administrative proceeding?


Thank you!