conversation: User (internthrowaway23454): "As the title says I was just informed this past week that I'm being laid off. I've been an intern at this company for 2.5 years, but they are going through restructuring and doing massive layoffs. My manager said we can talk details over the next week or two. I'm wondering if I can/should push for a severance package? "
  Self: "Severance is something companies optionally use to motivate people to sign legal agreements (please don’t sue us for anything in the future) on the way out the door. If they don’t offer severance outright, then the time to bring it up would be when they want you sign papers. Still, it’s optional for them to offer it (just as it is optional for you to enter into further legal agreements with your now non-employer)"
  