MAGGIE'S CORNER
Severance Pay?
What Severance Pay?
by Maggie Ostroff
Did you know
that we have a provision for severance pay? Here's how it works (at
least on the West Coast; the Eastern Region rules are very complicated;
those members should check with the New York office):
If you have worked 200 days or more in a one-year period with the same employer, you may be entitled to one week's severance pay. The one-year period is calculated from 365 days back from your last day worked, so it has nothing to do with a straight calendar year. Unworked holidays don't count. And if you quit the job or were fired for cause, you are not eligible for the pay. If you worked two different shows, but they were for the same employer or studio, that does count.
But here's the kicker: Employers don't have to pay it if you don't ask for it! You have to request the pay in writing within 365 days of your layoff date. Probably the best person to write to is the head of post-production or the management's post-production contact you had on the show. Severance will not be paid until after 90 days after the last day worked. However, if you get a new show with the same company in that 90 days, you won't get severance until 90 days after that job is over. The pay scale is one week of pay for one-to-two years of work, two weeks for three-tofour years, to a maximum of 13 weeks after 20 years of service.
There are many details that couldn't all be addressed here.The best way to go is to check with your Field Rep to be sure you get what you're due. Just remember to keep tabs on the number of days you worked—you don't want to lose out on pay you've earned!