Q: We recently terminated an employee and are paying severance for several weeks; however, the employee has a garnishment. Does it come out of the severance payments?

A: Typically, garnishments will come out of amounts due and owing to the employee from the employer. Severance payments are W2 changes and as such the garnishment would normally apply. Sometimes there may be variation on how money can be taken out of payments based on the garnishment order itself.