This article appeared in The Bankruptcy Strategist, featuring the strategies and techniques devised by the country’s top bankruptcy lawyers and reports on innovative procedural techniques, legislative developments and recent judicial rulings — plus what they mean for you and your clients.
The filing of a bankruptcy case by a company creates substantial uncertainty for its employees. This uncertainty can translate into employee departures, lack of focus on the business, and diminution in the value of the company. Recognizing these potential consequences, companies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy often try to reduce employee uncertainty by seeking authority from the bankruptcy court to: 1) honor unpaid compensation and benefit obligations to employees; 2) continue severance and benefit plans post-bankruptcy; and/or 3) continue existing bonus programs or establish retention or new incentive programs for employees.
