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Claiming Severance Pay

Some time ago, I lost my job here in Israel because the company no longer had enough hours to give me. I was entitled to receive severance pay (פיצוים). I received an initial payout about 4 months after I was fired, but the remainder has still not been paid — 16 months later. My former employer has basically stopped helping me. They refer me to the insurance provider (a middle man), who has refused to help me and then sends me to the main insurance company. The main insurance company then tells me that I’m missing all this paperwork that my employer was supposed to have taken care of — this has happened on two separate occasions.
I have informed my work of this on numerous occasions (which were both on the phone and in written e-mails to which I received responses), yet they continue to neglect the issue. We are going around in circles, and I have put literally hours of time into calling my former employer, calling the two insurance companies, writing e-mails to them, faxing them, etc. etc.to get the remainder of the money.
I am getting extremely frustrated, especially seeing as they continue to neglect their obligations to assist me in getting the final payout.
Am I allowed to bill my former employer for the hours I have put into taking care of something they should have done?

Thank you!

Answer:

You can’t add these hours to your claim; although we sometimes incur expenses, and certainly waste a great deal of time, because of others’ inconsideration, this doesn’t give us a right to claim compensation.

However, I would advise you to take the issue to a beis din. You can make a simple claim against the employer in question, and if he refuses to come to beis din you will be given permission to take up the case in court.

Best wishes.

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