Fired businesswoman standing outdoors on the stairs of office building 881832046
  • Employment law attorney Craig Levey shares insights into HR's role in termination meetings.
  • Levey advises employees to ask about the reason for termination, benefits end date, and severance.
  • In layoffs, Levey suggests consulting an attorney to understand separation agreements and potential legal claims.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Craig Levey, an employment law attorney and partner at Bennett & Belfort, P.C., a law firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The following has been edited for length and clarity.