AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
Exhibit
10.1
AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE
Workstream,
Inc. (“Employer”) and Xxxxxx X Xxxxxx, his heirs, executors, administrators,
successors, and assigns (collectively referred to throughout this Agreement
as
“Employee”), agree that:
1.
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Last
Day of Employment.
Employee’s last day of active employment with Employer was February 15,
2008.
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2.
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Consideration.
In
consideration for signing this Agreement, complying with its terms,
and
not revoking this Agreement during the revocation period set forth
below,
Employer agrees to pay to Employee:
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The
equivalent of three months salary, sixty two thousand and five
hundred
dollars ($62,500.00) as follows: Workstream will issue (3) monthly
checks
in the amount of Twenty Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Three Dollars
and 33
cents ($20,833.33) per check. The first check will be issued no
later than
the first day of the first month following the later of (i) Employer’s
receipt of a signed original of this Agreement, or (ii) the expiration
of
the Revocation Period referenced below without Employee having
revoked
this Agreement during the Revocation Period, and each subsequent
check
will be issued no later than the first day of the month for the
next three
months. Workstream shall issue an IRS form 1099 at the end of the
year to
Xxxx Xxxxxx. Workstream makes no representation as to the taxability
of
the amounts paid to Xxxx Xxxxxx. Xxxx Xxxxxx agrees to pay federal
or
state taxes, if any, which are required by law to be paid with
respect to
this amount. Moreover, Xxxx Xxxxxx agrees to indemnify Workstream
and hold
it harmless from any interest, taxes or penalties assessed against
it by
any governmental agency as a result of the non-payment of taxes
on any
amounts paid to and legally due by Xxxx Xxxxxx under the terms
of this
Agreement;
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30,
000 Restricted Stock Units which will be 100% vested upon signature
of
these conditions;
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Workstream
agrees to pay health insurance coverage for Xxxx Xxxxxx ’s family through
December 31, 2008;
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Outstanding
travel and expense reimbursement in accordance with the Workstream
travel
policy provided the expenses are submitted for processing no later
than 30
days from the date of this
agreement;
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Outplacement
assistance premium package through Xxxxx and
Associates;
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Membership
to 0XxxxxxXxxx.xxx for 12 months;
and
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Workstream
waives its right to enforce any non-competition provisions of any
agreements between Workstream and Xxxx
Xxxxxx.
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3.
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No
Consideration Absent Execution of this Agreement.
Employee
understands and agrees that Employee would not receive the monies
and/or
benefits specified in paragraph “2” above, except for Employee’s execution
of this Agreement, his fulfillment of the promises contained herein,
and
the expiration of the revocation period without Employee revoking
this
Agreement.
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4.
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General
Release of All Claims.
Employee
knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever discharges Employer,
its
parent corporation, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, predecessors,
insurers, successors and assigns, and their current and former
employees,
attorneys, officers, directors and agents thereof, both individually
and
in their business capacities, and their employee benefit plans
and
programs and their administrators and fiduciaries (collectively
referred
to throughout the remainder of this Agreement as “Releasees”), of and from
any and all claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted,
which the
Employee has or may have against Releasees as of the date of execution
of
this Agreement and General Release, including, but not limited
to, any
alleged violation of:
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The
National Labor Relations Act;
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Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act;
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Sections
1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States
Code;
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The
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (except for any vested
benefits
under any tax qualified benefit
plan);
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The
Immigration Reform and Control Act;
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The
Americans with Disabilities Act;
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The
Age Discrimination in Employment
Act;
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The
Occupational Safety and Health Act;
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The
Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification
Act;
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The
Fair Credit Reporting Act;
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The
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights
Act;
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Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification
Act;
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Employee
Polygraph Protection Act;
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The
employee (whistleblower) civil protection provisions of the Corporate
and
Criminal Fraud Accountability Act (Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act);
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California
Fair Employment and Housing Act - Cal. Gov’t Code § 12900 et
seq.;
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Statutory
Provision Regarding Retaliation/Discrimination for Filing a Workers
Compensation Claim - Cal. Lab. Code §132a (1) to
(4);
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California
Xxxxx Civil Rights Act - Civ. Code § 51 et
seq.;
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California
Sexual Orientation Bias Law - Cal. Lab. Code §1101 et
seq.;
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California
AIDS Testing and Confidentiality Law - Cal. Health & Safety Code
§199.20 et seq.;
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California
Confidentiality of Medical Information - Cal. Civ. Code §56 et
seq.;
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California
Smokers’ Rights Law - Cal. Lab. Code
§96;
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California
Parental Leave Law - Cal. Lab. Code §230.7 et
seq.;
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California
Apprenticeship Program Bias Law - Cal. Lab. Code §3070 et seq.;
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California
Equal Pay Law - Cal. Lab. Code §1197.5 et seq.;
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California
Whistleblower Protection Law - Cal. Lab. Code § 1102-5(a) to (c);
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California
Military Personnel Bias Law - Cal. Mil. & Vet. Code §394 et seq.;
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California
Family Rights Act Leave - Cal. Gov’t Code
§12945;
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California
Kin Care Leave - Cal.Lab.Code §233;
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California
Parental Leave for School Visits Law - Cal. Lab. Code §230.7 et seq.;
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California
Electronic Monitoring of Employees - Cal. Lab. Code §435 et
seq.;
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Cal/OSHA
law, as amended;
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California
Consumer Reports: Discrimination Law - Cal. Civ. Code §1786.10 et
seq.;
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California
Political Activities of Employees Act - Cal. Lab. Code §1101 et seq.;
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California
Domestic Violence Victim Employment Leave Act - Cal. Lab. Code
§230.1;
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California
Voting Leave Law - Cal. Elec. Code §14350 et seq.;
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California
Court Leave Law - Cal. Lab. Code
§230;
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any
other federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, or ordinance;
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any
public policy, contract, tort, or common law;
or
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any
basis for recovering costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’
fees incurred in these matters.
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To
achieve a full and complete release as described in herein, Employee
expressly waives and relinquishes all rights and benefits afforded
Employee by Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California,
and
Employee does so understanding and acknowledging the significance
and
consequence of such specific waiver of section 1542. Section 1542
of the
Civil Code of the State of California states as
follows:
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A
GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW
OR
SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HER OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE,
WHICH
IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HER OR HER SETTLEMENT
WITH
THE DEBTOR.
Thus,
notwithstanding the provisions of section 1542, and for the purpose of
implementing a full and complete release and discharge of Releasees, Employee
expressly acknowledges this Agreement is intended to include in its effect,
without limitation, all claims not known or suspected to exist in Employee’s
favor at the time of signing this Agreement.
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Employee
agrees and understands this is a full and final release covering
all known
and unknown and anticipated and unanticipated injuries, debts,
claims, or
damages which may have arisen, or which may arise, connected with
all
matters from the beginning of time to the date hereof, including
but not
limited to those injuries, debts, claims, or damages now known
or
disclosed which may have arisen, or which may arise, from Employee’s
employment with MSN and/or InteliStaf as described above. This
Agreement
does not extend to those rights which as a matter of law cannot
be waived,
including but not limited to unwaivable rights Employee may have
under the
California Labor Code such as rights to reimbursement or indemnity
under
Labor Code § 2802, nor does this Agreement affect any right Employee may
have to receive workers’ compensation benefits, unemployment benefits
pursuant to the California Unemployment Insurance Code or State
Disability
insurance benefits.
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5.
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Acknowledgments
and Affirmations.
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Employee
affirms that Employee has not filed, caused to be filed, or presently is
a party
to any claim against Employer.
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Employee
also affirms that Employee has been paid and/or has received all
compensation, wages, and/or benefits to which Employee may be entitled,
including accrued but unused vacation time through February 15,
2008 in
the amount of eight thousand six hundred sixty one dollars and
forty one
cents ($8661.41), representing 80.07 hours of vacation time, and
unused
flex time in the amount of one thousand seven hundred thirty dollars
and
seventy seven cents ($1730.77), representing sixteen (16) hours
of flex
time. Employee affirms that he waives all rights to any and all
commissions and bonuses stipulated in any employment agreement
or
commission plan between Workstream and Employee. The agreed termination
date is February 15, 2008, therefore Workstream is providing the
difference between the final checks sent to Xxxx Xxxxxx on February
15th
2008 and the effective termination date of February 15th, 2008.
An
additional 16 hours of wages in the amount of $1730.77 as well
as an
additional 4.62 hours of accrued time equating to $499.76 will
be paid by
Workstream with a check totaling $2230.53 included with is agreement
via
FedEx Delivery.
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Employee
affirms that Employee has been granted any leave to which Employee
was
entitled under the Family and Medical Leave Act or related state
or local
leave or disability accommodation laws and has not been subjected
to
retaliation for taking such leave.
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Employee
further affirms that Employee has no known workplace injuries or
occupational diseases. Employee also affirms that Employee has
not
divulged any proprietary or confidential information of Employer
and will
continue to maintain the confidentiality of such information consistent
with Employer’s policies and common law.
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Employee
further affirms that Employee has not been retaliated against for
reporting any allegations of wrongdoing by Employer or its officers,
including any allegations of corporate fraud. Both Parties acknowledge
that this Agreement does not limit either party’s right, where applicable,
to file or participate in an investigative proceeding of any federal,
state or local governmental agency. To the extent permitted by
law,
Employee agrees that if such an administrative claim is made, Employee
shall not be entitled to recover any individual monetary relief
or other
individual remedies.
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6.
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Confidentiality
and Return of Property. Employee
agrees not to disclose any information regarding the underlying
facts
leading up to or the existence or substance of this Agreement and
General
Release, except to Employee’s spouse, tax advisor, and/or an attorney with
whom Employee chooses to consult regarding Employee’s consideration of
this Agreement and General Release.
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Employee
affirms that Employee has returned all of Employer’s property, documents,
and/or any confidential information in Employee’s possession or control.
Employee also affirms that Employee is in possession of all of
Employee’s
property that Employee had at Employer’s premises and that Employer is not
in possession of any of Employee’s
property.
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7.
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Governing
Law and Interpretation.
This Agreement and General Release shall be governed and conformed
in
accordance with the laws of the state in which Employee last worked
for
Employer, without regard to that state’s conflict of laws provision. In
the event of a breach of any provision of this Agreement and General
Release, either party may institute an action specifically to enforce
any
term or terms of this Agreement and General Release and/or seek
any
damages for breach. Should any provision of this Agreement and
General
Release be declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent
jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, excluding
the
general release language, such provision shall immediately become
null and
void, leaving the remainder of this Agreement and General Release
in full
force and effect.
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8.
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Nonadmission
of Wrongdoing.
The Parties agree that neither this Agreement and General Release
nor the
furnishing of the consideration for this Agreement and General
Release
shall be deemed or construed at any time for any purpose as an
admission
by Releasees of wrongdoing or evidence of any liability or unlawful
conduct of any kind.
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9.
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Amendment.
This Agreement and General Release may not be modified, altered
or changed
except in writing and signed by both Parties wherein specific reference
is
made to this Agreement and General
Release.
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10.
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Entire
Agreement.
This Agreement and General Release sets forth the entire agreement
between
the Parties hereto, and fully supersedes any prior agreements or
understandings between the Parties. Employee acknowledges that
Employee
has not relied on any representations, promises, or agreements
of any kind
made to Employee in connection with Employee’s decision to accept this
Agreement and General Release, except for those set forth in this
Agreement and General Release.
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EMPLOYEE
IS ADVISED THAT EMPLOYEE HAS UP TO TWENTY-ONE (21) CALENDAR DAYS TO CONSIDER
THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE. EMPLOYEE ALSO IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH
AN
ATTORNEY PRIOR TO EMPLOYEE’S SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL
RELEASE.
EMPLOYEE
MAY REVOKE THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN (7) CALENDAR
DAYS FOLLOWING THE DAY EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE.
ANY
REVOCATION WITHIN THIS PERIOD MUST BE SUBMITTED, IN WRITING, TO XXXXXX
XXXXXXX,
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, WORKSTREAM, INC., 0000 XXXX XXXXXX XXXXX #000,
XXXXXXXX, XX 00000, AND
STATE, “I HEREBY REVOKE MY ACCEPTANCE OF OUR AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE.” THE
REVOCATION MUST BE PERSONALLY DELIVERED TO XXXXXX XXXXXXX OR MAILED TO XXXXXX
XXXXXXX AT THE ADDRESS LISTED ABOVE AND POSTMARKED WITHIN SEVEN (7) CALENDAR
DAYS AFTER EMPLOYEE SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE.
EMPLOYEE
AGREES THAT ANY MODIFICATIONS, MATERIAL OR OTHISWISE, MADE TO THIS AGREEMENT
AND
GENERAL RELEASE, DO NOT RESTART OR AFFECT IN ANY MANNER THE ORIGINAL UP TO
TWENTY-ONE (21) CALENDAR DAY CONSIDERATION PERIOD.
EMPLOYEE
FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, ENTERS INTO THIS AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE INTENDING TO WAIVE, SETTLE AND RELEASE ALL CLAIMS EMPLOYEE
HAS OR MIGHT HAVE AGAINST RELEASEES.
The
Parties knowingly and voluntarily sign this Agreement and General Release
as of
the date(s) set forth below:
WORKSTREAM,
INC.
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By:
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By:____________________________________
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Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
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Director
of Human Resources
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Date:
__________________________________
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Date:
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