Massachusetts has no mandatory severance law but offers some of the country's strongest employee protections through its Wage Act and anti-discrimination statutes.
Statutory Severance
None (limited Plant Closing Act)
WARN Threshold
Federal only: 100+ employees, 60 days
Key Law
MA Wage Act, Chapter 151B (anti-discrimination)
Negotiability
High — employee-friendly courts and laws
Model your entitlement using jurisdiction-specific rules and Bardal factor analysis.
Important: These estimates reflect typical negotiated settlement ranges — but your actual entitlement depends heavily on your employment contract terms and applicable state law. Not sure if your contract is enforceable? Get your free full analysis — first analysis is free.
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U.S. at-will doctrine applies in most states · Estimates are illustrative · Not legal advice · Consult a qualified employment attorney
Massachusetts employees have no general statutory right to severance pay, but the state's robust Wage Act, strong anti-discrimination laws, and employee-friendly courts create significant leverage in separation negotiations. The state's Plant Closing Act applies in very limited circumstances.
No. Massachusetts has no general law requiring severance pay. However, if your employer promises severance in writing — in a contract, offer letter, or severance plan — that promise is enforceable as a wage under the Massachusetts Wage Act, and violations can result in triple damages.
The Massachusetts Wage Act requires prompt payment of all earned wages, including promised severance and accrued vacation. If your employer fails to pay agreed severance, you can sue and recover three times the unpaid amount plus attorney's fees. This makes Massachusetts one of the strongest states for enforcing severance commitments.
The Massachusetts Plant Closing Act applies to certain businesses with 50 or more employees that shut down a facility. It provides limited notice and severance rights in specific circumstances. It is much narrower than the general question of severance for individual terminations and does not apply to most layoffs.
Other US states
Content last updated March 2026. This tool provides estimates only and does not constitute legal advice. For a complete analysis of your specific severance package, use the full contract analysis and jurisdiction-matched review.