It&#x27;s similar with asking about severance pay. Employers, in fact, often count on the candidate feeling too nervous that they will look bad to ask about negotiating a severance benefit. However, in start-ups in particular where someone being wrong about growth or certain forecasts can mean significant risk of short term layoffs, almost at any time, getting a severance agreement is quite important. And if the company won&#x27;t do it, because they think you&#x27;re somehow trying to game the system for your severance benefit, or because they say something dumb like, &quot;well, no one else has asked for a severance benefit&quot; -- then you know it&#x27;s probably a company to avoid.