Most people accept less severance than they're owed

They call you into a meeting. "Quick chat." Five minutes later, you're out. And in the middle of the shock, a number lands on the table: your severance.

Most people have no idea if that number is right. And that's exactly why so many walk away with less than they're owed.

The problem isn't just legal. It's emotional.

When you're laid off, the difficulty isn't only that you don't know employment law. It's how you feel in that moment:

• you're rattled
• you want it over with
• you're afraid of making things worse
• and you probably don't know how severance is calculated

Your employer does. That gap matters.

Because small details can shift the total by thousands:

• your actual start date
• pending variable pay or bonus
• unused holiday days
• pro-rated extra payments
• the type of dismissal
• your base salary figure
• any additional negotiated items

If you are not sure what each type of dismissal means, here is the difference between 20 and 33 days, and why it can mean thousands of euros either way.

"I signed, then found out it was wrong"

It happens more than you'd think. You sign without reading closely, skip the settlement breakdown, don't question the document, or assume HR got it right.

HR works for the company. Not for you. That's not bad faith. It just means you need to understand the numbers before you accept anything.

The problem with old calculators

Most severance calculators online look like they were built 15 years ago. Hard to follow, slow, full of ads, or they make you register before showing you anything.

When you're going through a layoff, the last thing you want is to hand over your email, take sales calls, or feel like someone's trying to sell you something.

Why we built Golayoff

We wanted something different: fast, clean, private, and simple. No signup. No endless forms. No data stored.

Just enter what you know and get a clear estimate in seconds. Because before you negotiate, sign, or decide anything, you need one thing: clarity. Try the calculator or read how severance is calculated step by step, with real examples.

Does a calculator replace a lawyer?

No. But it can help you:

• get a ballpark figure
• spot numbers that look off
• walk into a conversation better prepared
• avoid signing without any context

That already changes a lot.

Before you sign: 5 things to do

1. Don't sign under pressure
2. Check the type of dismissal
3. Verify your start date and salary figure
4. Calculate outstanding holiday and payments
5. Know what you're owed before you agree to anything

Because a 10-minute conversation can affect months, or years, of financial stability.

If the uncertainty of all this feels like a lot right now, you are not alone: we cover it in the future work skill: learning to live with the threat of redundancy.

If you also want help with what comes next (CV, interviews, your next professional step), I run free 1-to-1 sessions. Message me on LinkedIn or check out the sessions.