I was laid off this evening in a voice mail from my employer of 4.5 years. He said he would still pay me for this week, but as our paychecks are one week behind, that is clearly owed to me anyway.

My questions is, does he owe me anything else, aka severance pay? Please let me know.

I feel so angry and used as this is so unexpected. I was planning on leaving at the end of the year and let him know that a month ago so that he would have plenty of time to figure out what he was going to do. Now, because of my consideration, he had the opportunity to lay me off ahead of time. If I had given the typical two weeks notice, I would till have a job.

Is there anything I can do, besides simply file for unemployment? My husband is a disable veteran and we need all the money we can get.

Thank you.

Unless you are working under a union contract or an individual bona fide personal services employment contract that requires severance pay, there is no requirement that you be paid any. There certainly isn't in the law itself.

And honestly, you had already advised that you were planning on leaving at the year anyway. Just goes to show that too much advance notice can backfire on you. Had you submitted a formal notice of resignation already? In any case, you might be eligible for UI benefits at least through the end of December. You have nothing to lose by filing.

Although MA is one of the extremely few states in which there are ANY circumstances that severance is required by law, this is not one of those circumstances. He does not owe you, under the law, anything except wages for time actually worked and any vacation time you may have accrued but not taken.