I know of a case where a company laid off a person for unjustifiable reasons. Of course the notice period was observed but the person decided to press a lawsuit and the court decided that the layoff reason was baseless. While they did not get rehired(once the moral is hit hard to go back may be), but they got awarded to 7-8 months of full salary paid. Something that probably played into the favor was that the person just recently became a father for a month after which he was handed the forced redundancy news and the observance of notice period.

According to anti-discrimination law, a ground for layoff(or not hiring) can not be tied to parenthood.

Not in my circle. Usually, threatening to sue is enough. I know people who increased their severance package because they said that "they wanted to talk to the lawyer from their legal insurance before accepting any severance package."

Of course this doesn't work if you have a work council, usually the work-council negotiate a severance package algorithm (= fix_amount + tenure * amount), and this is usually un-negotiable. This makes sense, thanks to collective bargaining, it's most likely one the best deal you could have gotten. (Even though libertarians will flock-in and start going "How do I know, that I, as a highly performing individual couldn't have negotiate better!?! This seems unfair!")

> Even though >highly paid SWE< will flock-in and start going "How do I know, that I, as a highly performing individual couldn't have negotiate better!?! This seems unfair!")

I made a correction. Also I really hate the tendency of tech workers doing everything to stay away from unionizing or collective bargaining or establishing work councils. There is this bizarre tendency that it is just somekind if conspiracy and they are able to bargain better deals. This in collective hurts the entire tech crew everywhere.