Is severance a real procedure?
Asked by: Dr. Marquise Schiller MD | Last update: November 1, 2025Score: 5/5 (67 votes)
The “severance procedure” isn't real—but some of Severance's ideas aren't as out-there as you may think. THIS ARTICLE IS republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Can severance be a real thing?
Severance pay is often granted to employees upon termination of employment. It is usually based on length of employment for which an employee is eligible upon termination. There is no requirement in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for severance pay.
Is severance based on a real company?
The plot follows Mark Scout (Scott), an employee of the fictional corporation Lumon Industries who agrees to a "severance" program in which his non-work memories are separated from his work memories. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on February 18, 2022.
Does severance exist?
However, severance pay often refers to optional compensation that is offered to employees when their job suddenly ends. Employers frequently provide severance compensation as part of a severance package that may include additional perks like the continuance of the employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
What is a severance procedure?
This procedure sees employees have their work and personal life memories split via surgery, which implants a chip into their brains. This chip is typically activated when employees enter the restricted or “severed” sections of their company.
Severance Theories #3 - What Does MDR Actually Do?
Is the severance procedure real?
Not exactly, but Apple TV+'s scifi plot has a real-life parallel.
Can you be terminated without severance?
In these cases, employers are generally not required to provide severance pay or notice, as the dismissal is justified under California's at-will employment laws.
Could severance actually happen?
According to Vijay Agarwal, the brain cancer specialist who served as the show's neurological consultant, real-life procedures are well on their way to developing a technology akin to the one in Severance. “I really don't think we're that far off,” Agarwal told The Times.
Can a company deny severance pay?
If not, however, nothing in California law requires your employer to pay you severance. If your employer has never agreed to do so by way of company policy or contract, then they have no obligation to pay you severance.
Do you get a severance package if you get fired?
No Legal Requirement: California law does not require severance pay.
What the heck is severance about?
Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives. When a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journe... Read all.
Is the building in Severance real?
Lumon, the company at the center of Apple TV+'s #Severance, is imaginary, but the building is not. It's in Holmdel, New Jersey, and it was the home of Bell Laboratories, the research operations of AT&T.
Is severance based on anything?
While the Apple TV series Severance (2022) shares its name with Ling Ma's 2018 novel Severance, the show is not directly based on the book. Instead, it draws from similar themes, but the storylines and settings diverge significantly.
Why is severance controversial?
The Severance Procedure Is Highly Controversial
Innies aren't treated as real people at Lumon, often being scolded and even mentally tortured if they don't behave as expected.
What is the rule of 70 for severance?
5) What is the Rule of 70 for severance? In the United States, the "Rule of 70" for severance is a simple way to determine if an employee is eligible for retirement-related. If the sum of the employee's years of service and age is 70 or more, you can combine retirement benefits as severance pay.
Is severance really slow?
It is slow, it is calm, it needs time to unfold the story and it needs patience. In criminal series I'm okay with slow tempo because there is a will to figure out who is the murderer. But in Severance, I can't see any aspect which keeps me interested to follow the happenings.
What is the downside to severance?
What is the downside to severance? The downside to severance includes financial drawbacks such as loss of steady income, potential loss of benefits, and uncertainty about future job prospects, as well as the impact on retirement savings and benefits.
What are the red flags in a severance agreement?
Severance agreements can provide crucial financial support for departing workers, but employers often have ulterior motives when offering them. Pressure to sign, inadequate pay or benefits, protections favoring the employer at your expense, and overly restrictive provisions are red flags in a severance agreement.
Can a company layoff without severance?
Most employers offer a severance agreement that defines the financial terms for an employee when their employment is terminated. Severance packages are not required by law, but employers tend to offer them as gestures of goodwill or to be competitive in their industries.
Is severance worth it?
Most impressively, Season 2 shows that “Severance” has figured out ways to grow while leaving enough of its core mysteries intact. It's the rare series that feels both utterly spontaneous and fastidiously plotted out. It was worth the wait.
Can you sue for more severance pay?
Yes, you can sue if the severance package did not include a release. However, if you signed a release, suing becomes more difficult.
What voids a severance agreement?
Fraud, misrepresentation, duress, or unconscionability are common defenses you can use if you want to void a severance agreement that you already signed.
Can you decline a severance package?
What are common reasons to reject a severance offer in California? Inadequate compensation, restrictive clauses, waiver of valuable legal claims, or discriminatory terms are valid reasons to reject a severance offer.
What is the average severance pay?
Employers typically consider the employee's salary level and length of service to calculate severance pay. Most employers provide an average of one to two weeks' salary for each year of service. They may also adjust the amount based on an employee's tenure or role in the company.
What if an employer lies about why you were fired?
You can sue an employer for firing you under false accusations if the termination violates your employment contract, discriminates against protected classes, or is considered retaliatory under labor laws. Document the accusations and seek legal counsel to determine if wrongful termination laws apply in your case.