Laid off from IBM? Severance Review in 24 Hours

The IBM cut

2,000 cut in 2025-2026.

IBM continued workforce "rebalancing" across consulting and HR in 2025-2026, citing Watsonx and AI productivity gains.

Most affected: consulting, HR (replaced by AskHR), finance. The package you received was drafted to be signed quickly. The severance multiple, equity treatment, healthcare bridge, release language, and any non-compete riders are all moveable if you know what to push on.

Your 21-day review clock is already running (45 if you're 40 or older in a group layoff). Don't burn it.

Sample output

What we catch in a IBM severance.

Three of the issues we routinely find for tech-sector exits like IBM. The full report runs 8 to 15 issues like these, ranked by dollar impact, with a redlined version of your document attached.

See full sample report → Download sample redlined DOCX

Red flag · High impact

Unvested RSUs walking out the door

"All unvested equity awards shall be forfeited upon the Separation Date..."

What it means: Tech severance often ignores RSUs that would have vested within the standard package window. Equity acceleration is the single biggest dollar item we find.

Counter: Push for vesting credit through the end of severance period, or accelerate the next 1-2 vests. Common at this stage.

Red flag · Hidden clause

Non-compete piggybacked on the release

"Employee agrees not to engage in any Competitive Activity for twelve (12) months..."

What it means: Several tech companies have started slipping fresh non-competes into severance docs even when one was not in the original offer. State enforceability varies wildly.

Counter: Strike or narrow. In California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, these are unenforceable. Everywhere else, scope and duration are negotiable.

Yellow flag · Asymmetric

PTO and 401(k) match not addressed

"[clause silent on accrued PTO or 401(k) employer match]"

What it means: Most state laws require payout of accrued PTO regardless of severance. The 401(k) match for the current period is also typically owed.

Counter: Confirm in writing: full PTO payout + any earned 401(k) match for the year-to-date period. Get both as separate line items.

How it works

From upload to counter in 24 hours.

01

Upload your IBM agreement

Send the severance as a PDF. Tell us your role, tenure, state, and what matters most. Money, healthcare, references, equity. Takes five minutes.

02

Expert review

Our model runs every clause against our severance rubric and tech-sector benchmark library. A human reviewer audits before delivery.

03

Counter delivered

A shareable PDF: flagged issues, what to ask for, and the email language to send IBM HR. Add a 30-min strategy call if you want backup.

Pricing

Less than an hour of an employment attorney.

Attorneys charge $500 to $1,500 an hour and need 3 to 5 hours for this. We deliver the same analysis in 24 hours for $199.

IBM severance review

$199 flat fee

24-hour turnaround

Red/yellow/green flagged issue summary
Clause-by-clause analysis with tech-sector benchmarks
Negotiation talking points and email template
Shareable PDF report
Confidential, deleted in 30 days

Start IBM severance review →

Review + Prep Call

$498 $199 + $299

Everything above, plus a 30-min Zoom

Walk through every flag with a reviewer
Rehearse the conversation with IBM HR
Customize the counter to your situation
Recording sent after
Scheduled within 48 hours of upload

Review + Prep Call →

Common IBM questions

Before you sign anywhere.

How long do I have to sign my IBM severance?

Federal law gives you 21 days to review, 45 days if you are 40 or older and the layoff is part of a group separation (which is the case for most IBM cuts). After signing, you have 7 days to revoke. Do not let HR pressure you to sign faster than the statute requires.

Is IBM severance actually negotiable?

Yes. Severance multiple, equity acceleration, healthcare bridge length, release scope, non-disparagement mutuality, and any non-compete riders are all routinely moved during the review window. The package they sent is the floor, not the ceiling.

What about my unvested IBM equity?

Default treatment is forfeiture, but vesting credit through the end of severance period or acceleration of the next 1-2 vests is common, especially for employees with 3+ years tenure. We model what's recoverable and draft the ask.

Will IBM find out I had this reviewed?

No. Counteroffer never contacts your employer. The output is for you only. When you negotiate, you send the counter in your own voice using language we drafted. IBM sees a thoughtful response, not a third-party report.

My deadline is in 3 days. Can you turn it faster?

Yes. Standard turnaround is 24 hours. If you have a same-day or 48-hour deadline, email hello@trycounteroffer.com after checkout. We can usually turn it in 4 to 6 hours at no extra cost.

Why not just use ChatGPT on my IBM agreement?

Plenty of people do. The problem: ChatGPT does not know what a market severance multiple looks like for your role, tenure, and IBM's standard package. Our models are trained on real attorney-drafted contracts and indexed against tech-sector benchmark data. You're paying for the rubric and benchmarks, not the model.

What if I've already signed my IBM severance?

If you are still within the 7-day revocation window (which applies to employees over 40 in group layoffs), you can revoke and renegotiate. Email hello@trycounteroffer.com before purchasing if you've signed and we'll tell you honestly whether a review is still useful.

The IBM severance they wrote
isn't the one you have to sign.

$199, 24 hours, shareable PDF. The cheapest leverage you'll buy this quarter.

Start IBM severance review → I have a tight deadline

Laid off from IBM?Don't sign your severance yet.