I was recently laid off permenantly from an automotive manufacturing company in Oakland County Michigan after working there for 9 years. I was a female in a mostly male office environment, and they didn’t do anything sexist or anything, but I am wondering if they are just worried about being sued because they talked perverted a lot, not towards me but just in general. Anyway they have offered me a decent severence package with a nice payment and the continuation of their portion of payment for my health care for a few more months, but I have to sign this contract severance agreement that’s like 5 pages long or they say I won’t get these benefits and they have no obligation to pay me if I don’t sign. It’s a non-union shop and I was a full time salary worker. I guess I just want to know what my rights are? Don’t they have to give me a severence agreement? What happens if I don’t sign? What happens if I do sign? I am not a lawyer and have no idea what all this language means?
Which leads me to my other question… I am a single mom with 1 4 year old daughter and now that I am out of a job there is no way I can keep up with my mortgage and bills unless something happens quick. If I file bankruptcy do I lose my house? What happens to my bills, my 401 k, my credit? I’m sorry if I sound stupid but this is all foreign to me I have always worked and been able to pay my bills, but in my industry and with this economy in Michigan I really don’t see finding another job in manufacturing anytime soon. I’m just scared and don’t know what to do 🙁
