STRATEGY

Any organization terminating someone who is close to retirement should be willing to do what it can to give the employee credit for the time remaining until they qualify for retirement. How much of a bridge an organization offers is entirely subjective. If you're terminated when close to retirement you have two possible responses, based on whether or not your former employer has done the right thing and “bridged” your seniority to the vesting level. Don't let the company's gesture suffice. Ask that, in the same spirit, the company also carry the cost of your health coverage until it's covered by your retirement or pension plan. Having already established the bridging precedent it's not much of a leap for the company to broaden it to include health coverage. If the company hasn't given you credit for whatever time you need to earn your retirement benefits, don't hesitate to use your legal leverage. The specter of a wrongful termination suit should be sufficient to increase your severance package…and that's what it's all about.

TACTICS

• Attitude: Don't focus on the injustice of the situation. Focus on forcing the company to provide you with your retirement benefits.
• Preparation: If you have any inkling your job is in jeopardy consult not just the employee handbook but applicable laws about terminating someone close to retirement.
• Timing: You'll have no control over the timing of your termination, but don't hesitate to postpone your discussion of severance if it could help your position.
• Behavior: Be businesslike, but don't hide your shock and anger.

ADAPTATIONS

This script can be modified to:

• Get feedback from your supervisor on your team's or your own recent performance.

KEY POINTS

• If you're not offered a bridge to retirement don't hesitate to push for it. You have legal leverage.
• If you are offered a bridge to retirement, ask for your health coverage to be extended as well.
• Realize you may need to postpone implying you're getting legal advice.
• Don't hesitate to go over as many heads as possible to get to the ultimate decision maker.