Imagine if your company offered you six months’ worth of salary if you quit your job right now. Would you go? What if they threw in early stock vesting and health insurance for a year?
It’s a tough decision that workers are facing at various companies. Microsoft and NPR are two of the latest big firms to announce buyout offers, but it can happen anywhere — just ask state workers in North Dakota or employees of the Salt Lake City Public Library system.
There is no easy answer to whether you should take a buyout and run. In the end, it’s going to depend on your financial situation, where you are in your career and how you feel about digging up your resume again.
Here are some things to consider.
Start with the math
As tempting as that buyout package may sound, understand that it’s not all hitting your bank account. You’ll still have to pay taxes on income — and if it’s a large lump sum, it could push you into a higher tax bracket.
Second, benefits are a wild card. Will your company continue to pay for a share of your health insurance? What about dental or life insurance?
“A $60,000 severance package sounds substantial until you calculate how quickly it evaporates when you’re replacing employer benefits out of pocket,” says Jeff Judge, a certified financial planner (CFP) with Chesapeake Financial Planners in Forest Hill, Maryland.
Look at your current savings — plus whatever you’ll get from your buyout — and determine how many months of job hunting that total will cover. Are they paying out your remaining paid time off? Is it enough time to find a new position?
Scott Bishop, a CFP and co-founder of Presidio Wealth Partners in Houston, recommends having at least three months of living expenses in an emergency fund — not including the buyout package — before considering the offer.
“This is not just a onetime decision,” Bishop says. “It requires looking forward at cash flow, taxes, healthcare costs and long-term retirement income.”
Meet MoneyNerd, your weekly news decoder
So much news. So little time. NerdWallet's new weekly newsletter makes sense of the headlines that affect your wallet.
Consider your career prospects (and timing)
There are a few career questions to ask yourself in this situation: Are you closer to the beginning or the end of your working years? Are you near enough to retirement to bridge the gap? If not, how long will it take you to find a new spot in your industry?
Also, was everyone at your level or on your team offered a buyout? If so, think carefully about waiting around too long.
“If your coworkers have similar skill sets and they hit the market first, they may be the ones to pick up any new positions coming in,” says Gene Camm, managing director of compensation resources at CPA firm EisnerAmper in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Think, too, about what’s going to happen to the workers left behind after the buyouts. If you stay, will your workload increase? Will you potentially be laid off? Or could staying create new prospects?
“There are a number of instances where it makes complete sense to really buckle down and stay where you’re at, especially if there will be additional opportunities opening up in roles of leadership,” Camm says.
Negotiate — and not just about the cash
If there’s wiggle room in your buyout package, there are lots of ways to ask for more. Beyond salary (which is the natural place to start), is there PTO that can be paid out? Can you ask for more months of benefits or company perks like a gym membership?
Think about it this way: If you take a buyout, you’re doing your company a favor.
“They’re doing this so they don’t have to be the bad guy,” Judge says. “You’re saving the employer that uncomfortable decision.”
If you’re close to a date that would qualify you for a bonus or a pension, you can ask for a later termination date. You can ask to leave with a positive reference letter. You may also be able to get your hiring contract changed if there’s any language that limits your work after you leave the firm.
Rich Hofmann, a CPA and CFO of Neil Jesani Tax Advisors in Sunrise, Florida, notes that you can ask for a modification to a non-compete agreement you've already signed, for instance.
It’s also not unusual for companies to include career placement services. If that’s not part of the deal, Hofmann says, ask about it.
Take your time
Leaving a job is a big move and not one to be taken lightly. However much time you have to decide, use it fully.
“I’ve rarely seen someone regret taking a buyout they spent two weeks analyzing,” Judge says. “I’ve seen plenty regret the ones they signed in 48 hours.”
Among other things, find out how the buyout package affects your eligibility for unemployment benefits, which varies by state. Review the legal agreement for restrictions, like non-compete or non-solicitation clauses, that may affect the work you can do next, Bishop recommends.
Also, declining a buyout doesn’t mean you’re stuck where you are. This just might be your cue to job hunt.
“It’s always easier to find a new job when you’re currently employed, because you don’t have to answer that question, ‘Well, how come you’re not employed any longer?’” Camm says.
In the end, a buyout may present you with an exit ramp, but make sure it meshes with your broader financial and career plans.
“Beyond the numbers, this is also a personal decision,” Bishop says. “Your satisfaction with your job, confidence in the company’s stability and readiness for a transition all matter.”
