My wife was let go from her employer yesterday, one week before having to leave on a week-long annual military training for the Navy Reserve. We live in Texas. She had been working for this company for 9 months as a project manager and had just finished clearing their backlog of installs (they do solar). She told me they pulled her into a meeting and told her that she was not a good fit for the company, and the fact that she had to leave on annual military training “throws a wrench in this whole thing”. They offered her $3,000 and wanted her to sign this long document a couple of things stood out to me, which made us hesitant.
“Employee represents that she has not, and agrees to not, file any lawsuit or claim against the Company based on any events, whether known or unknown, occurring prior to the date of the execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any events related to, arising out of, or in connection with, her employment with the Employer, or the termination of such employment, in any court or tribunal of the United States, with the State of employment, or any other State, City, County, or Local jurisdiction. Employee also acknowledges and agrees that while this release does not preclude the Employee from filing a charge with the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Opportunity Commission or a similar State or Local agency, or from participating in any investigation or proceeding with such an agency, he or she will not personally recover monies, and expressly waives the right to recover such monies, for any complaint or charge filed against the Employer with any Federal, State, or Local board, agency, or court.”
“Employee shall not disclose, either directly or indirectly, any information whatsoever regarding any of the terms or the existence of this Agreement to any person or organization, including but not limited to members of the press and media, present and former employees of Company, and persons or companies who do business with Company.”
“By signing this Agreement, I state and hereby acknowledge that I am receiving compensation and severance benefits to which I was not otherwise entitled. I am waiving and releasing all claims against the Company that I may have.”
“In the event any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, void, invalid or unreasonable in scope, such provision shall be modified to the extent necessary to make it enforceable, and as so modified, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.”
Our main concern is that if she signs this, she may not be able to file for unemployment. It also just feels like the military training might have been the reason for letting her go which feels like it might be illegal. Please advise