What are my rights, what is reasonable, and how do I know that I'm not getting screwed?

I was a VP for a small firm (only there for about 3 months) - prior to this, I worked hard for 30 years or so and never had any problems with any employer. After a discussion with my employer last week, he told me it just "wasn't working out" - my guess is that I learned about things that needed much improvement and he didn't want to hear it as his opinion of himself is out of this world. So he said he would pay me my salary for the next 2 months, and would send a letter detailing this agreement. Much to my surprise he sent me a Separation Agreement and Release of Claims. Never being in this position before, I have no idea what is reasonable here. Is 2 months reasonable compared to others? By signing the agreement which says that I agree to resign, are there other implications that I need to know? Is it better to not sign and collect unemployment compensation or does that require that I am officially fired? In my original employment agreement, I was supposed to be paid an incentive lump sum in addition to my salary - which my employer first said I would get this past December, but supposedly realized that he couldn't pay me until mid-February, but he conveniently decided things were not working out, prior to mid-February. Do I have a leg to stand-on to get the incentive pay? Are there other reasons I should not sign the Release agreement?

0 answers  |  asked Feb 10, 2010 4:54 PM [EST]  |  applies to Maryland