Severance in Massachusetts
Massachusettsseverance & layoff calculator
State law shapes how much of your severance you keep, when you can collect unemployment, and whether your employer owed you advance notice. Here’s what applies in Massachusetts.
- Top marginal tax
- 9.00%
- WARN Act
- Federal WARN only
- Unemployment max
- $823 / week
- PTO payout
- Required by law
- Right to work
- No
- Notes for Massachusetts
- Worth knowing
Severance is taxed at your state's top marginal rate when it pushes you into that bracket.
Massachusetts doesn't have a state mini-WARN, so federal rules apply: 100+ employees, 60 days' notice.
Up to 30 weeks. Severance is treated as wages here, which delays unemployment insurance eligibility until your severance period ends.
Massachusetts requires accrued, unused PTO to be paid out at separation regardless of your employment agreement.
Non-right-to-work; union representation may be relevant to severance and grievance procedures.
Highest UI duration in the country (30 weeks); vacation pay treated as wages under the Wage Act.
Sources: state department of labor, state department of revenue, and the U.S. Department of Labor ETA. Last verified: 2026-04.
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Estimates based on public data and industry benchmarks. Not legal advice.