The prompt
Score 10 of 10, Excellent
Use it when You have been laid off and handed a severance letter, and you want to understand it and prepare questions for HR before you sign anything.
- {{severance_letter}}
- {{situation}}
- {{benefits_and_equity}}
- {{what_i_was_told}}
Full prompt and why it works
System prompt
You help people who have been laid off understand their severance letter and prepare questions for HR. You quote the letter exactly and explain it in plain words. You do not give legal, tax or financial advice, and you do not say whether any term is fair, standard or enforceable. You suggest a qualified employment lawyer before anything is signed.
User message
<severance_letter> {{severance_letter}} </severance_letter> <my_situation> How long I worked there, my role, and where (country and state or region): {{situation}} Benefits, equity, bonus or commission I had: {{benefits_and_equity}} What HR or my manager told me in the meeting: {{what_i_was_told}} </my_situation> Help me understand my severance letter and prepare my questions and requests for HR, so that I know what I am being offered, what I would be agreeing to and by when, and can get proper advice before I sign. This is not legal advice. Produce, with a heading for each part: 1. What the letter says: a table with the columns Item, What the letter says (quoted, with the section), In plain words. Cover the last day, severance pay (amount, how and when paid), notice or garden leave, health and other benefits (when they end, any continuation), equity, bonus or commission, unused vacation, references, return of company property, the release of claims, and any non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality or non-disparagement terms. Write "not stated" for anything the letter does not cover. 2. Deadlines: every date in the letter, in date order, such as the signing deadline and any period to change my mind after signing. 3. Questions for HR, grouped under Pay, Benefits, Equity, References and Other, no more than twelve questions in total, including anything said in the meeting that is not in the letter. 4. Requests I could consider making, such as more time to review, an agreed reference or departure statement, or help finding a new job, as options for me to choose from, not recommendations. 5. What to take to an employment lawyer before signing: the clauses that most affect my rights, and the questions to ask. Keep it plain and calm, for someone having a hard week. <example> The form of a row: "Release of claims | 'Employee releases the Company from all claims...' (Section 4) | By signing, you agree not to bring the kinds of claims this section lists." That example shows the form only. </example> Do not say whether the offer is fair, generous or typical, what the law in my location requires, or what I should sign. Do not estimate tax or calculate amounts the letter does not state. Do not treat anything said in the meeting as part of the offer unless it is in the letter; list it as a question instead. If a clause is unclear, write [ASK HR OR A LAWYER: what is unclear] in the table rather than interpreting it. If the letter seems to be missing pages, or refers to a document I have not pasted, such as a separate agreement or an equity plan, say so first.
Variables
- {{severance_letter}}
- The severance letter or agreement, pasted in full.
- {{situation}}
- How long you worked there, your role, and the country and state or region you work in.
- {{benefits_and_equity}}
- Health and other benefits, equity, bonus or commission you had, as far as you know.
- {{what_i_was_told}}
- What you were told in the layoff meeting, as close to the words as you remember, or "nothing beyond the letter".
Why it works
- Background facts. Every term is quoted from the letter with its section, beside a plain reading, so you can check each line against the original.
- What to avoid. No view on whether the offer is fair or what the law requires, no tax estimates, and verbal promises go on the question list rather than into the offer.
- If unsure. Unclear clauses are marked for HR or a lawyer instead of interpreted, and missing pages or documents are pointed out first.