You Have More Leverage Than You Think - Hiring an Employment Attorney Changes the Game

I don’t often share client victories. Partly because of confidentiality. Partly because I’m not great at celebrating wins. But a few recent cases reminded me why I love this work, and I wanted to share them.

Escape thinking vs. exit strategy

A client reached out recently with what seemed like a simple request: could I help her get out of repaying relocation expenses if she quit?

ut as we talked, a different picture emerged. She was enduring serious racial and gender harassment from an abusive CEO. The stress was crushing her. She just wanted out.

I asked her one question that changed everything: “Why aren’t you asking for severance?”

She hadn’t considered it. She was so focused on just surviving after being beaten down that she couldn’t see what she was entitled to.

We negotiated a severance package: six months of salary plus six months of COBRA coverage. Instead of paying to leave a toxic situation, she now has breathing room to recover and consider next steps.

That’s the difference between planning your exit and just escaping.

When “take it or leave it” means ask for more

I recently worked with a client who received a severance offer of eight weeks of pay in exchange for signing away all her rights. She assumed this was all she could get. HR had presented it as standard, non-negotiable.

But after reviewing her situation: her tenure, her performance record, and the circumstances around her departure, it was clear she had more leverage than she realized.

We negotiated. Those eight weeks became eighteen weeks of salary plus extended benefits—more than double the original offer.

The difference was understanding what she was entitled to and asking for it.

It’s not always about the money

Not every client needs a severance negotiation. Sometimes what you need is simply peace of mind.

One client was faced with an unfair contract. We worked together to identify the problematic language and draft changes that protected her interests.

Another wanted to resign but needed to ensure he’d receive the bonus he was owed. We drafted a resignation letter that maintained his dignity, worked out the timing, and got his employer to confirm the payment in writing. He left on his own terms, with certainty instead of anxiety.

Strategic exit planning isn’t always about maximizing dollars. Sometimes it’s about minimizing stress and protecting what’s already yours.

You need a strong advocate

Each of these clients came to me thinking they had limited options. They were either ready to accept whatever was offered or hadn’t even considered what was possible.

Most people underestimate their leverage because they’re too close to their own situation. When you’re exhausted, betrayed, or just desperate to escape a toxic workplace, it’s hard to see clearly.

That’s where I come in. To help you see what options you actually have, and to execute the strategy that gets you what you deserve.

If you’re facing a difficult workplace situation, I’d love to talk with you. Start here.

You deserve better than settling for whatever they’re offering.