Settlement agreements are fairly common in the ERISA / employee benefits area. We typically do not need “unique” provisions for these agreements, beyond making sure all the proper parties are named and that ERISA is referenced. But two issues typically require extra attention: confidentiality provisions, and payment method (including tax withholding and reporting). As discussed in our sister blog, a party might quietly violate a confidentiality provision, and get away with it without causing any real harm. But when a party shares settlement information with a child who has both a Facebook page and poor judgment, the ramifications can be significant. Therefore, if an employer wants to prevent disclosure of the existence or amount of a settlement or severance payment, a well written confidentiality clause is essential.
