The simple answer is, yes! Your employer cannot force you to sign a settlement agreement, and you are not obliged to accept it by any means.
A settlement agreement is a voluntary option offered to you by your employer for many different reasons. Therefore, you will be given full opportunity to consider the terms of the agreement as well as the chance to seek independent legal advice. There are many circumstances in which you may not agree with the terms. This could be that you’re not happy with the amount offered, you don’t agree with the terms, or that you would like to look at another option.
In many cases, you don’t have to completely refuse the agreement. You may be able to negotiated the terms by perhaps asking for higher compensation, payment for outstanding holiday, or even to make changes to the wording in the agreement.
Before refusing the settlement agreement, it is important to make an informed decision, as well as also seeking independent legal advice to ensure you are making the right choice. A solicitor can review the terms of the agreement, and explain whether the offer is fair based on your circumstances, as well as what rights you could be giving up if you do go down the refusal route.
The most important thing to understand is that you should not feel pressurised into signing anything just because your employer has given a deadline. You are well within your rights to take a reasonable amount of time to consider your options before making a decision.