Document:

Exhibit

CIENA CORPORATION
CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Change in Control Severance Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made by and between Ciena Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and <<EXECUTIVE>> (the “Executive”), and shall become effective on November 1, 2016.
WHEREAS, the Company (as hereinafter defined) considers it essential to foster the continuous employment of key management personnel and recognizes that the possibility of a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined) of the Company exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty that it may cause, may result in the departure or distraction of key management personnel of the Company, to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders;
WHEREAS, the Executive is a key management employee of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to encourage the continued employment of the Executive by the Company and wants assurance that it will have the continued dedication, loyalty and service of, and the availability of objective advice and counsel from, the Executive notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and representations contained herein and the mutual benefits derived herefrom, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:  
1.    Certain Definitions. In addition to those terms defined elsewhere herein, when used herein, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings indicated:
1.1.    “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.
1.2.    “Cause” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(i)    the Executive’s willful and continued failure substantially to perform the duties of the Executive’s position (other than as a result of Disability or as a result of termination by the Executive for Good Reason) after written notice to the Executive by the Governance and Nominations Committee of the Board (or any other special committee or subcommittee appointed by the Board for such purpose) (the “Governance Committee”) specifying such failure, provided that such "cause" shall have been found by a majority vote of the Governance Committee after at least seven days' written notice to the Executive specifying the failure on the part of the Executive and after an opportunity for the Executive to be heard at a meeting of the Governance Committee;
(ii)    any willful act or omission by the Executive in connection with his or her responsibilities as an employee of the Company constituting dishonesty, fraud or other malfeasance, immoral conduct or gross misconduct;
(iii)    any willful material violation by the Executive of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or the Proprietary Information, Inventions and Non-Solicitation Agreement between the Company and the Executive; or
(iv)     the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or a crime of moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or any other jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business.
For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act by the Executive shall be deemed “willful” unless effected by the Executive not in good faith and without a reasonable belief that such act or failure to act was in or not opposed to the Company’s best interests.

1.3.    “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(i)    the direct or indirect sale or exchange by the stockholders of the Company of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company where the stockholders of the Company before such sale or exchange do not retain, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the beneficial interest in the voting stock of the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the “Acquiring Company”) after such sale or exchange;
(ii)    a merger or consolidation where the stockholders of the Company before such merger or consolidation do not retain, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the beneficial interest in the voting stock of the Acquiring Company after such merger or consolidation;
(iii)    the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange, or transfer to one or more subsidiary corporations of the Company);
(iv)    a change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two year period, as a result of which less than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean directors who either (A) are directors of the Company as of the date hereof or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the directors of the Company at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company);
(v)    a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(vi)    any other event that the Board, in its reasonable discretion, shall determine constitutes a Change in Control.
In each case the determination of whether or not a “Change in Control” is deemed to have taken place shall be made without regard to whether such events or occurrences constituting the Change in Control were hostile or against the position of the Board, or were approved or concurred in by the Board.
1.4.    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
1.5.    “Company” means Ciena Corporation, its affiliates and subsidiaries, and any successor as provided in Section 7.5.
1.6.    “Disability” means either (i) “total disability” as defined for purposes of the Company’s long-term disability benefit plan; or (ii) the Executive’s inability, as a result of physical or mental incapacity, to perform the Executive's duties for a period of six consecutive months or for an aggregate of six months in any 12 consecutive month period.
1.7.    “Effective Date” means the date on which a Change in Control becomes effective. In the event of a subsequent Change in Control within one year of the prior Change in Control, “Effective Date” shall be adjusted to mean the date on which the subsequent Change in Control occurs.
1.8.     “Good Reason” means; 
(i)    removal from, or failure to be reappointed or reelected to the Executive’s principal position immediately prior to the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable (other than as a result of a promotion); 
(ii)    material diminution in the Executive’s position, duties or responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive of duties that are inconsistent, in a material respect, with the scope of duties and responsibilities associated with the Executive’s position immediately prior to the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable; 

(iii)    material reduction in base salary or award opportunity under any corporate incentive plan (or any successor to any such plan), or a material reduction in the level of participation in long-term incentive, benefit and other plans for senior executives as in effect immediately preceding the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable, or their equivalents; 
(iv)    relocation of the Executive’s principal workplace without the Executive’s consent to a location which is more than 50 miles from the Executive’s principal workplace on the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable; or 
(v)    any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy the requirements of Section 7.5, provided that the successor shall have received at least ten days’ prior written notice from the Company or the Executive of the requirements of Section 7.5; 
provided, however, that (A) the Executive has provided notice to the Company of any of the foregoing conditions within 90 days of the initial existence of the condition; (B) the Company has been given at least 30 days following receipt of such notice to cure such condition; and (C) the Executive actually terminates employment within one year following the initial existence of the condition.
1.9.    “Options” means the Executive’s options to purchase common stock of the Company (or to receive cash or property the amount or value of which is determined by reference to the price of the Company’s common stock) that are (i) validly issued under any of the Company’s equity incentive or stock option plans and (ii) outstanding as of the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable. 
1.10.    “Performance-Based Restricted Stock” means the Executive’s restricted stock (including “restricted stock units” or other rights to receive common stock of the Company) that is (i) validly issued under any of the Company’s equity incentive plans, (ii) outstanding as of the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable, and (iii) subject to performance-based vesting.
1.11.    “Time-Based Restricted Stock” means the Executive’s restricted stock (including “restricted stock units” or other rights to receive common stock of the Company) that is (i) validly issued under any of the Company’s equity incentive plans, (ii) outstanding as of the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable, and (iii) subject to time-based vesting.
1.12.    “Triggering Event” means termination of the Executive's employment with the Company without Cause by the Company, or for Good Reason by the Executive, either (i) within 90 days prior to the Effective Date or (ii) on or within 12 months after the Effective Date. For purposes of this definition, an Executive's employment with the Company will be deemed to have terminated on the earlier of the date the Executive's employment with the Company ceases or the date that written notice of any such termination is received by the Executive or by the Company, as the case may be, even though the parties may agree in connection therewith that the Executive's employment with the Company will continue for a specified period thereafter. The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in any such notice sufficient facts or circumstances showing Good Reason or Cause, as the case may be, shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company or preclude either party from asserting such facts or circumstances in the enforcement of any such right.
2.    Term of Agreement.
This Agreement shall commence on the date of its execution by the Executive and shall continue in effect through November 30, 2019 (the “Term”), and may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Executive and the Company (as authorized by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board). Notwithstanding the foregoing:
		
	(a)
	the Term shall be automatically extended without any further action if the Company is in active negotiations for, or has entered into, a definitive agreement regarding a Change in Control (a “Pending Transaction”), until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which such negotiations have terminated 

without entry into a definitive agreement, (ii) the date on which such definitive agreement has terminated pursuant to its terms without occurrence of a Change in Control, or (iii) 12 months following the Effective Date of such Pending Transaction;
		
	(b)
	in the event that a Change in Control occurs during the Term, this Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of 12 months following the Effective Date; and

		
	(c)
	if the Executive becomes entitled to severance benefits under Section 3 during the Term, this Agreement will not terminate until all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

3.    Severance Benefits Upon Triggering Event.
Provided that the Executive satisfies the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof, upon a Triggering Event the Company shall pay the Executive the amounts and provide the Executive with the benefits set forth in this Section 3 (subject to the exclusivity and non-duplication provisions of Section 6 hereof):
3.1.    Severance Payment. The Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum severance payment, subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld, equal to one and one-half times the sum of (i) the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to either the date of the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or the Effective Date, whichever is higher, and (ii) the Executive’s annual target bonus or sales commissions amount(s) under any incentive plan(s) or program(s) in which the Executive participated immediately prior to either the date of the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or the Effective Date, whichever is higher. The above bonus or commissions amount shall be based on an assumed achievement of 100% of the targeted performance goal(s) for such award. Upon receipt of the above bonus amount, and subject to Section 6.2(iii) hereof, neither the Executive nor any other person claiming any payment by reason of the Executive's participation in the applicable annual bonus plan or annual sales incentive compensation plan shall have any right to any additional payment under such plan(s) or program(s) with respect to any applicable award thereunder;
3.2.    Welfare Benefit and D&O Insurance. The Company shall continue the Executive's (and, where applicable, the Executive's spouse and eligible dependents’) participation in the group medical, dental and vision plans maintained by the Company, on substantially the same basis as if the Executive were an employee of the Company, until the earlier of 18 months following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company or the last day of the month in which the Executive commences employment with another employer following the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company (the “Coverage Period”). In the event that the Company is unable for any reason to provide for the Executive's (and, where applicable, the Executive's spouse and eligible dependents’) continued participation in one or more of such plans during the Coverage Period, the Company shall pay or provide at its expense equivalent benefit coverage for the remainder of the Coverage Period. The Coverage Period shall be taken into account as a period of continuation coverage for purposes of Part 6 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and for purposes of any other obligation of the Company to provide any continued coverage to the Executive (and, where applicable, the Executive’s spouse and eligible dependents) under any group medical, dental or vision plan. In the event that any payments under this Section 3.2 violate the non-discrimination rules under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), then the parties agree to modify this section as necessary in order to comply with the ACA. The Company shall continue to maintain director and officer insurance covering the Executive, and shall maintain in effect any indemnification agreements providing for indemnification of the Executive by the Company, until the applicable statute of limitations has ended;
3.3.    Options and Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding the terms of any plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company: 
		
	(a)
	upon the Effective Date, (i) the Executive’s Options that are subject to performance-based vesting and for which the applicable performance period has not yet expired shall immediately be converted into Options with time-based vesting conditions, and (ii) the Executive’s Performance-Based Restricted Stock, and any other similar instruments of equity-based compensation that are subject to performance-

based vesting, for which the applicable performance period has not yet expired shall immediately be converted into Time-Based Restricted Stock; in each case, with vesting as to the equity awards converted above being deemed to have commenced on the date of grant and vesting as to 1/16th of the grant on each March 20, June 20, September 20 and December 20 following the date of grant;
		
	(b)
	upon a Triggering Event, all of the Executive’s Options, Performance-Based Restricted Stock and Time-Based Restricted Stock (including any performance-based equity awards converted pursuant to Section 3.3(a) above), to the extent unvested, shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full; and

		
	(c)
	upon a Triggering Event, the Executive must elect to exercise any unexercised and exercisable Options within the time period set forth in the applicable plan, program or arrangement under which they were granted, subject to the following requirements:

		
	(i)
	If the exercise of any Option within the time period described in this Section 3.3 is prevented by the requirements of federal or state securities laws or as provided under the terms of the applicable plan, program or arrangement, then the Option shall remain exercisable until three months after the date the Executive is notified by the Company that the Option is exercisable, but in no event later than ten years after the date of grant of the Option; and 

		
	(ii)
	If the exercise of any Option within this time period would subject the Executive to suit under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the period for exercise shall be extended until the earliest to occur of (a) the tenth day following the date on which the Executive would no longer be subject to such suit, (b) the 190th day after the end of the salary continuation period, or (c) ten years after the date of grant of the Option.

3.4.    Section 409A. Each of the cash payments provided pursuant to Article 3 of the Agreement shall be treated for purposes of Section 409A of the Code as a right to a series of separate and distinct payments.  If the Executive is a “specified employee,” as such term is defined pursuant to Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder, and an amount payable under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties thereunder, then such payments shall not be made until the earlier of the Executive’s death or six months and one day after the Executive’s last day of employment. With respect to any amounts for which cash payment has been delayed in accordance with this Section 3.4, such amounts shall accrue interest at the applicable U.S. Treasury rate for the corresponding maturity period in effect as of the date of the Triggering Event.

4.    Conditions Precedent.

4.1.    Release and Waiver. The parties agree that, as a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the severance payments and benefits set forth in Section 3, the Executive shall execute a general waiver and release (a “Release”), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, within 45 days following the last day of the Executive’s employment with the Company, of all claims relating to the Executive's employment by the Company and the termination of such employment, including but not limited to discrimination claims, employment-related tort claims, contract claims and claims under this Agreement (other than claims with respect to benefits under the Company's tax-qualified retirement plans, continuation of coverage or benefits solely as required by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA, or any obligation of the Company to provide future performance under Section 3). No severance payments or benefits will be paid or provided until after the last day on which the Executive could rescind all or any part of the Release and the Release has become effective, and the Company will make the lump sum severance payment pursuant to Section 3.1 within ten days thereafter; provided, however, that if the period during which the Release could be signed and 

become effective begins in one taxable year and ends in another taxable year, then the severance payment will not be made until the beginning of the second taxable year.

4.2.    Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. The parties agree that, as a condition to the Executive’s right to receive the severance payments and benefits set forth in Section 3, the Executive agrees that, for a period of 12 months following the Executive’s last day of employment with the Company, the Executive will not, whether alone or as a partner, officer, director, consultant, agent, employee or stockholder of any company or other commercial enterprise, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:

		
	(a)
	be employed or engaged by or associated with, or engage or invest in, own, manage, operate, finance, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation, financing or control of, any business or other commercial activity whose products directly compete, in whole or in part, with the products of the Company; provided, that the Executive may purchase or otherwise acquire as a passive investment up to (but not more than) one percent of any class of security of any enterprise (but without otherwise participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or

		
	(b)
	(i) solicit or induce any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, (ii) solicit business of the same or similar type being carried on by the Company from any person known by to the Executive to have purchased products or services from the Company within the 12 months prior to the Executive’s last day of employment with the Company, (iii) unlawfully interfere with the Company’s relationship with any person, including any person who was an employee, contractor, supplier or customer of the Company, or (iv) disparage the Company or any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees or agents.

4.3.    Construction. Section 4.2 is intended to provide the greatest restriction allowable under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §16601. In the event any provision hereof is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to violate any provision of Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §16601, that provision shall be modified to the least extent necessary to render it enforceable and the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
4.4.    Remedies. In the event of a breach of Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 by the Executive, then the Executive shall immediately reimburse the Company the entire gross amount of the severance benefits paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 3 up to the date of such breach. The forfeiture provisions of this Section 4.4 shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other remedies available to the Company at law or in equity.
5.    Limitation on Payments by the Company.
5.1.    In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (“Payment” or “Payments”) (i) constitutes a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and (ii) but for this Section 5, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be either:

		
	(a)
	paid or distributed in full, or

		
	(b)
	paid or distributed as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to the Excise Tax, 

whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by the Executive (on an after-tax basis) of the greatest amount of Payments, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such Payments may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.

5.2.    Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, all determinations required to be made under this Section 5 shall be made in writing by the independent public accountants appointed for this purpose by the Company (the “Accountants”) immediately prior to the Triggering Event, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Executive for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculation required by this Section 5, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section 5. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur in connetion with any calculations contemplated by this Section 5.
6.    Exclusivity and Non-Duplication.
6.1.    Exclusivity. Notwithstanding any other agreement to the contrary, the parties acknowledge and agree that the severance payments and benefits provided by the Company under this Agreement:
		
	(a)
	shall be the only severance or severance-related payments payable and benefits provided by the Company under any plan, program, policy or agreement, including but not limited to the Company’s U.S. Executive Severance Benefit Plan, and are in full and complete satisfaction of all such liabilities of the Company; and

		
	(b)
	shall be deemed to be inclusive of any notice, payments or benefits to which the Executive may be entitled under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act or other applicable plant or facility closing or mass layoff law, the Employment Standards Act, 2000 or other applicable employment standards legislation, or any other statutory or regulatory requirement to provide notice of employment termination or entitlement to severance payments.

6.2.    Non-Duplication. Notwithstanding any other agreement to the contrary, the parties acknowledge and agree that the severance payments and benefits provided by the Company under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other non-severance or non-severance-related payments or benefits under any plan, program, policy or agreement with the Company to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled as of the Triggering Event, including but not limited to (i) unpaid base salary (including accrued and unused paid time off days), (ii) unreimbursed business expenses, (iii) unpaid bonus or sales commission amounts earned under any incentive plan(s) or program(s) (provided that, in the case of the Company’s Amended and Restated Incentive Bonus Plan or any successor plan, such amounts shall be limited to any unpaid bonus amounts for any then-completed performance period in accordance with the terms of such plan), and (iv) amounts payable under any retirement plans or stock purchase plans of the Company in which the Executive may participate. 
7.    General.
7.1.    Inconsistent Provisions. This Agreement shall be in addition to, and have no effect on, the provisions of any other agreements, including without limitation indemnification agreements, confidentiality agreements and proprietary information, inventions and non-solicitation agreements, which may exist between the Company and the Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are inconsistent with those found in any other agreement or plan to which the Company and the Executive are each a party, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Notwithstanding the provisions of any existing confidentiality and similar agreements between the Company and the Executive, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law and (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a legal action, suit or proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

7.2.    Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or terminated after the Effective Date or the date of a Triggering Event, as applicable. Prior to such date, the Board may, in its sole discretion, modify or amend this Agreement in any respect, provided such actions do not reduce the amount or defer the receipt of any payment or benefit provided under this Agreement.
7.3.    Payment Obligations; Overdue Payments. Subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Sections 4.1 and 4.2, the Company's obligations to make the payments and provide the benefits to the Executive under this Agreement shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected in any way by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or anyone else. Each and every payment made hereunder by the Company shall be final and the Company will not seek to recover all or any part of such payment from the Executive or from whosoever may be entitled thereto, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.4. The Executive shall be entitled to receive interest at the prime rate of interest published from time to time by The Wall Street Journal on any payments under this Agreement that are 30 days overdue, provided, however, that no payments shall be deemed to be overdue until the Executive executes the Release and any rescission period with respect to such Release has expired.
7.4.    At-Will Employment. The Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the Executive’s employment by the Company is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law, except as may otherwise be specifically provided under the terms of any written formal employment agreement or offer letter between the Company and the Executive.
7.5.    No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate any amounts payable or arrangements made under this Agreement, nor shall any such payment or arrangement be reduced by any earnings that the Executive may receive from any other source (except as provided in the first sentence of Section 3.2).
7.6.    Successors. All rights under this Agreement are personal to the Executive and, without the prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable in the event of the Executive’s death or disability by the Executive's legal representative. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such event resulting in a successor had taken place. 
7.7.    Controlling Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws).
7.8.    Arbitration. DISPUTES REGARDING THE EXECUTIVE'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER, WHICH CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE EXECUTIVE SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO, AND SOLELY DETERMINED BY, FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION CONDUCTED BY JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES (“JAMS”) OR ANY SUCCESSOR THERETO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH JAMS’ ARBITRATION RULES FOR EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES THEN IN EFFECT, AND THE PARTIES AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE FINAL AWARD OF THE ARBITRATOR IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY MATTER RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT. ARBITRATION MAY BE HELD IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND OR SUCH OTHER PLACE AS THE PARTIES HERETO MAY MUTUALLY AGREE, AND SHALL BE CONDUCTED SOLELY BY A FORMER JUDGE. JUDGMENT UPON THE AWARD BY THE ARBITRATOR MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF. The prevailing party in the arbitration, as determined by the arbitrator, shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable attorney’s fees and disbursements incurred in such proceedings by the non-prevailing party. BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES ARE GIVING UP ANY RIGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO SUE EACH OTHER IN COURT AND HAVE THEIR CASE DECIDED BY A JUDGE OR JURY, AND AGREE TO RESOLVE ANY AND ALL DISPUTES BY ARBITRATION.

7.9.    Severability. Any provision in this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
7.10.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement on the date written below.

	
			
	 
	CIENA CORPORATION
	EXECUTIVE

	By: 
	/s/ David M. Rothenstein
	___________________________________

	Name:
	David M. Rothenstein
	 

	Title:
	Senior VP and General Counsel
	 

	 
	 
	Date:  November 1, 2016EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of December 19, 2016, between Kate W. Duchene
(“Executive”) and Resources Connection, Inc. (the “Company”). 
 RECITALS 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish its right to the services of Executive in the capacities described below, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, and Executive is willing to accept such employment on such terms and conditions. 
 AGREEMENT 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises set forth herein, the parties agree as follows: 

1. RETENTION 
 The Company does hereby
hire, engage, and employ Executive as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company during the Period of Employment (as defined in Section 3), and Executive does hereby accept and agree to such hiring, engagement, and employment, on
the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement. This Agreement supersedes and replaces, in its entirety, the prior Employment Agreement Executive entered into with the Company dated July 17, 2008. 

2. DUTIES 
 (a) During the Period of
Employment (as defined in Section 3), Executive shall serve the Company in such position fully, diligently, competently, and in conformity with the provisions of this Agreement, directives of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board”), and the corporate policies of the Company as they presently exist, and as such policies may be amended, modified, changed, or adopted during the Period of Employment, and Executive shall have duties and authority
consistent with Executive’s position as the President and Chief Executive Officer. In this position, Executive shall report to the Board of Directors. If requested by the Company, Executive shall also serve as a member of the Board and any
Board committees without additional compensation. 
 (b) Throughout the Period of Employment, Executive shall devote her full business time,
energy, and skill to the performance of her duties for the Company, vacations and other leave authorized under this Agreement excepted. The foregoing notwithstanding, Executive shall be permitted to (i) engage in charitable and community
affairs, and (ii) to make investments of any character in any business or businesses and to manage such investments (but not be involved in the day-to-day
operations of any such business); provided, in each case, and in the aggregate, that such activities do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or conflict with the provisions of Sections 14 and 15, and further
provided that Executive shall not serve as a director of any other publicly traded entity without gaining the consent of the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee of the Board prior to the commencement of such service. 

  
 1 

 (c) Executive shall exercise due diligence and care in the performance of her duties for and the
fulfillment of his obligations to the Company under this Agreement. 
 (d) During the Period of Employment, the Company shall furnish
Executive with office, secretarial and other facilities and services as are reasonably necessary or appropriate for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and consistent with her position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 (e) Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Executive and the Company and the
performance by Executive of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any employment or other agreement or policy to which Executive is a party or otherwise bound. 

3. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT 
 The
“Period of Employment” shall, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, be three (3) years commencing on December 19, 2016 (the “Effective Date”) and ending on December 18, 2019. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, commencing with December 19, 2019, and on each December 19 thereafter (each an “Extension Date”), the Period of Employment shall be automatically extended for an additional one-year period, unless the Company or Executive provides the other party hereto sixty (60) days’ prior written notice before the next scheduled Extension Date that the Period of Employment shall not be so
extended (the “Non-Extension Notice”). The term “Period of Employment” shall include any extension that becomes applicable pursuant to the preceding sentence. 

4. COMPENSATION 
 (a) BASE SALARY.
During the Period of Employment, the Company shall pay Executive, and Executive agrees to accept from the Company, in payment for her services, a base salary of five hundred and eighty-three thousand dollars ($583,000) per year (“Base
Salary”), payable in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices in effect from time to time (but in no event less frequently than in monthly installments). The Board shall consider not less frequently than annually upward
adjustment to Executive’s Base Salary. The determination of whether Executive’s Base Salary will be upwardly adjusted is within the sole and absolute discretion of the Board of Directors. 

(b) ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. During the Period of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any annual incentive
or bonus plan or plans maintained by the Company for its executive officers of the Company generally, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and provisions of each such plan as the same may be changed, amended, or terminated, from time to time in
the discretion of the Board. 
 (c) EQUITY COMPENSATION. During the Period of Employment, Executive shall be eligible to receive
grants of stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, or other equity compensation on such terms and conditions as determined from time to time in the discretion of the Board. 

  
 2 

 Upon (or as may be necessary to give effect to such acceleration, immediately prior to) a Change
of Control event, as such term is defined in Section 7.3 of the Company’s 2004 or 2014 Performance Incentive Plan, as applicable, all of Executive’s then-outstanding and otherwise unvested outstanding equity awards shall be deemed
immediately vested, notwithstanding any other provision of the applicable plans or award documentation to the contrary. 
 5. BENEFITS 

(a) HEALTH AND WELFARE. During the Period of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all health and welfare benefit
plans and programs and all retirement, deferred compensation and similar plans and programs generally available to all other executive officers of the Company as in effect from time to time, subject to any restrictions specified in such plans and
programs. 
 (b) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Period of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all fringe benefit
plans and programs generally available to all other executive officers of the Company as in effect from time to time, subject to any restrictions specified in such plans and programs. 

(c) PERSONAL TIME OFF AND OTHER LEAVE. Executive shall be entitled to such amounts of paid personal time off and other leave, as from
time to time may be allowed to the Company’s executive officers generally or as approved by the Board specifically. 
 (d) BUSINESS
EXPENSES. During the Period of Employment, reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall be reimbursed by the Company in accordance with the Company’s business expense
reimbursement policies as in effect from time to time. At the latest, reimbursement shall be made on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of expenses
eligible for reimbursement during any taxable year of Executive shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year of Executive. 

(e) AUTOMOBILE. To the extent provided to other executive officers of the Company, during the Period of Employment, Executive shall be
entitled to receive an automobile allowance or a leased automobile and reimbursement for expenses associated with the operation and maintenance of such automobile. The Company will reimburse Executive upon presentation of vouchers and documentation
for any such operational and maintenance expenses which are consistent with the usual accounting procedures of the Company. 

  
 3 

 6. DEATH OR DISABILITY 

(a) DEFINITION OF PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND PERMANENT DISABILITY. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “Permanently
Disabled” and “Permanent Disability” shall mean Executive’s inability, because of physical or mental illness or injury, to perform substantially all of her customary duties pursuant to this Agreement, even with a
reasonable accommodation, and the continuation of such disabled condition for a period of ninety (90) continuous days, or for not less than one hundred eighty (180) days during any continuous twenty-four (24) month period. Whether
Executive is Permanently Disabled shall be certified to the Company by a Qualified Physician (as hereinafter defined). The determination of the individual Qualified Physician shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes. As used herein, the term
“Qualified Physician” shall mean any medical doctor who is licensed to practice medicine in the State of Executive’s residence. Executive and the Company may in any instance, and in lieu of a determination by a Qualified
Physician, agree between themselves that Executive is Permanently Disabled. The terms “Permanent Disability” and “Permanently Disabled” as used herein may have meanings different from those used in any disability insurance policy
or program maintained by Executive or the Company. 
 (b) VESTING ON DEATH OR DISABILITY. Upon any termination of the Period of
Employment and Executive’s employment hereunder by reason of Executive’s death or Permanent Disability, as defined in Section 6(a) (“Death or Disability – Definition of Permanently Disabled and Permanent Disability”), any
then-outstanding and otherwise unvested stock options, restricted stock and any other equity or equity-based awards granted by the Company to the Executive shall thereupon automatically be deemed vested and remain exercisable for the lesser of three
years or the term of the award, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or applicable plans but subject to the Company’s ability to terminate the awards in a change in control or similar circumstances pursuant to the applicable
plan and award agreements. 
 (c) TERMINATION DUE TO DEATH OR DISABILITY. If Executive dies or becomes Permanently Disabled during the
Period of Employment, the Period of Employment and Executive’s employment shall automatically cease and terminate as of the date of Executive’s death or the date of Permanent Disability (which date shall be determined by the Qualified
Physician or by agreement, under Section 6(a) above, and referred to as the “Disability Date”), as the case may be. In the event of the termination of the Period of Employment and Executive’s employment hereunder due to
Executive’s death or Permanent Disability, Executive or her estate shall be entitled to receive: 
 (i) a lump sum cash payment, payable
within ten (10) business days after termination of Executive’s employment, equal to the sum of (x) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder; (y) one times her then
current base salary; and (y) any earned but unpaid annual incentive compensation in respect of the most recently completed fiscal year preceding Executive’s termination of employment hereunder (the “Earned/Unpaid Annual
Bonus”); and 
 (ii) a pro-rated portion of the target annual incentive compensation, if
any, that Executive would have been entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4(b) in respect of the fiscal year in which termination of Executive’s employment occurs, based upon the percentage of such fiscal year that shall have elapsed through
the date of Executive’s termination of employment, payable when such annual incentive would otherwise have been payable had Executive’s employment not terminated. 

  
 4 

 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, following such termination of
Executive’s employment due to Executive’s death or Permanent Disability, except as set forth in Sections 6(b) and 6(c), and except for Executive’s rights (if any) under the plans, arrangements and programs referenced in Sections 4(b),
4(c) and 5, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. 
 In the event
Executive’s employment is terminated on account of Executive’s Permanent Disability, she shall, so long as her Permanent Disability continues, remain eligible for all benefits provided under any long-term disability programs of the Company
in effect at the time of such termination, subject to the terms and conditions of any such programs, as the same may be changed, modified, or terminated for or with respect to all executive officers of the Company. 

7. TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY 
 (a)
TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. The Board of Directors of the Company may, by providing written notice to Executive, terminate the Period of Employment and Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause at any time. The term “Cause”
for purpose of this Agreement shall mean: 
  

	 	(i)	Executive’s conviction of or entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; or 

  

	 	(ii)	Executive is engaging or has engaged in material fraud, material dishonesty, or other acts of willful and continued misconduct in connection with the business affairs of the Company; or 

 

	 	(iii)	Conviction of criminal theft, embezzlement, or other criminal misappropriation of funds by Executive from the Company; or 

  

	 	(iv)	Executive’s continued and substantial failure to perform the duties hereunder (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical illness), which failure is not cured within thirty (30) days
following written notice by the Board of Directors of the Company to Executive of such failure; provided, however, that (A) it shall not be Cause if Executive is making good faith efforts to perform duties and (B) this provision shall not
apply to any qualitative dissatisfaction by the Company with Executive’s performance of her duties hereunder; or 

  

	 	(v)	Executive’s continued breach of the provisions of Sections 14 and/or 15 of this Agreement, which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days following written notice by the Board of Directors of the Company to
Executive of such breach. 

 If Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, the termination shall take effect on the
effective date (pursuant to Section 27 (“Notices”)) of written notice of such termination to Executive. A determination by the Board that Cause exists shall be effective only if approved at a Board meeting (in person or telephonic) by
at least a majority of the Board (not counting the 

  
 5 

 
Executive if she is then a member of the Board). The Executive is entitled to be present (with counsel) at such meeting and respond to any basis that may be asserted as constituting Cause (a
summary of which shall be supplied to the Executive in writing at least ten (10) days before any such meeting). 
 In the event of the
termination of the Period of Employment and Executive’s employment hereunder due to a termination by the Company for Cause, then Executive shall be entitled to receive: (i) a lump sum cash payment, payable within ten (10) business
days after termination of Executive’s employment equal to the sum of (A) accrued but unpaid Base Salary as of the date of termination of Executive’s employment hereunder (including any accrued but unpaid personal time off) and
(B) any Earned/Unpaid Annual Bonus in respect of the most recently completed fiscal year preceding termination of Executive’s employment hereunder. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, following such termination of Executive’s employment due to termination by the
Company for Cause, except as set forth in this Section 7(a), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. 

If the Company attempts to terminate Executive’s employment pursuant to this Section 7(a) and it is ultimately determined that the
Company lacked Cause, in addition to any other non-contractual remedies Executive may have, the provisions of Section 7(b) (“Termination by the Company-Termination Without Cause”) shall apply and
Executive shall be entitled to receive the payments called for by Section 7(b) (“Termination by the Company-Termination Without Cause”). 

(b) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. The Company may, with or without reason, terminate the Period of Employment and Executive’s
employment hereunder without Cause at any time, by providing Executive written notice of such termination. In the event of the termination of the Period of Employment and Executive’s employment hereunder due to a termination by the Company
without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or Permanent Disability), then Executive shall be entitled to receive: 
 (i) a lump
sum cash payment, payable within sixty (60) days after termination of Executive’s employment equal to the sum of (A) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder (including
any accrued but unpaid personal time off), (B) the Earned/Unpaid Annual Bonus, if any; and (C) an amount equal to the product of the Executive’s then current Base Salary and then current target annual incentive bonus times three. 

(ii) A pro-rated portion of the annual incentive compensation, if any, that Executive would have
received pursuant to Section 4(b) in respect of the fiscal year in which termination of Executive’s employment occurs as though Executive’s employment had not been terminated, with such pro-ration
based upon the percentage of such fiscal year that shall have elapsed through the date of the termination of Executive’s employment, payable when such annual incentive would otherwise have been payable had Executive’s employment not
terminated. 

  
 6 

 (iii) any remaining unvested stock options or restricted stock shall thereupon automatically be
deemed vested and remain exercisable for the duration of the term of such award, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or applicable plans (but subject to the Company’s ability to terminate the awards in a change in control or
similar circumstances pursuant to the applicable plan and award agreements); and 
 (iv) continued participation in the Company’s group
health insurance plans, if currently offered, or a lump sum payment to procure substantially similar health care coverage on a public or private exchange until the earlier of (A) the expiration of the two (2) years from the effective date
of termination or (B) Executive’s eligibility for financial support in a group health plan of a subsequent employer or entity for which Executive provides consulting services; provided, however, that the amount otherwise payable to
Executive pursuant to Section 7(b)(i)(C) shall be reduced by the amount of any cash severance or termination benefits paid to Executive under any other severance plan, severance program or severance arrangement of the Company and its affiliates (but
not reduced by any other payment to Executive whatsoever, including (without limitation) any payment by the Company or any affiliate of the Company in consideration of stock or any other property). 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, following such termination of Executive’s employment due to termination by the
Company without Cause, except as set forth in this Section 7(b), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. 

As a condition precedent to any Company obligation to the Executive pursuant to this Section 7(b), the Executive shall, upon or promptly (and
in all events within twenty one days unless a forty-five day period is required under applicable law, in which case the period shall be forty-five days) following her last day of employment with the Company, provide the Company with a valid,
executed, written release of claims (similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit A provided as an example to be modified at the time of separation pursuant to the terms of the separation or such other form as modified by the Company for executive
officers) and such release shall have not been revoked by the Executive pursuant to any revocation rights afforded by applicable law. The Company shall have no obligation to make any payment to the Executive pursuant to Section 7(b) unless and until
the release contemplated by this Section 7(b) becomes irrevocable by the Executive in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. If the maximum period of time in which Executive has to consider and revoke such release spans two
different calendar years, payment of the applicable benefits shall (to the extent required in order to avoid any tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) be made in the
second of those two years. 

  
 7 

 8. TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE 

(a) TERMINATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON. Executive shall have the right to terminate the Period of Employment and Executive’s
employment hereunder at any time without Good Reason (as defined below) upon thirty (30) days prior written notice of such termination to the Company. Any such termination by the Executive without Good Reason shall be treated for all purposes
of this Agreement as a termination by the Company for Cause and the provisions of Section 7(a) shall apply. 
 (b) TERMINATION WITH GOOD
REASON. The Executive may terminate the Period of Employment and resign from employment hereunder for “Good Reason” if any of the following occur without Executive’s consent: 

 

	 	(i)	if the Company requires Executive to relocate her principal office to a location outside of Orange County, California; or 

  

	 	(ii)	if the Company fails to provide Executive with the compensation and benefits called for by this Agreement; or 

  

	 	(iii)	if the Company materially diminishes Executive’s authority, duties, responsibilities, or 

  

	 	(iv)	if the Company materially breaches any provision of this Agreement; 

 provided, however, that none of the
events described above shall constitute Good Reason unless Executive shall have notified the Board of Directors in writing describing the event(s) which constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of such event(s) and
then only if the Company shall have failed to cure such event within thirty (30) days after the Company’s receipt of such written notice; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of the Executive’s employment with the
Corporation shall not constitute a termination for Good Reason unless such termination occurs not more than one (1) year following the initial existence of the event(s) claimed to constitute Good Reason. 

Any such termination by Executive for Good Reason shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as a termination by the Company without
Cause and the provisions of Section 7(b) shall apply; provided, however, that if Executive attempts to resign for Good Reason pursuant to this Section 8(b) and it is ultimately determined that Good Reason did not exist, Executive shall be deemed to
have resigned from employment without Good Reason and the provisions of Section 8(a) (“Termination Without Good Reason”) and, by reference therein, the provisions of Section 7(a) (“Termination For Cause”), shall apply. 

9. EXCLUSIVE REMEDY 
 Executive agrees
that the payments contemplated by this Agreement shall constitute the exclusive and sole contract remedy for any termination of her employment and Executive covenants not to assert or pursue any other contractual remedies, at law or in equity, with
respect to any termination of employment. 

  
 8 

 10. EXPIRATION OF PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT 

(a) ELECTION NOT TO EXTEND PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. If either party elects not to extend the Period of Employment pursuant to
Section 3, unless Executive’s employment is earlier terminated pursuant to Sections 6, 7 or 8, termination of Executive’s employment hereunder shall be deemed to occur on the close of business on the day immediately preceding the
anniversary of the next Extension Date following the delivery of the Non-Extension Notice pursuant to Section 3. If the Company elects not to extend the Period of Employment, Executive’s termination
will be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as a termination by the Company without Cause under Section 7(b); provided, however, that the applicable lump sum payment due pursuant to a non-renewal
shall be the sum of: 7(b)(i)(A), 7(b)(i)(B), and one and one half times Executive’s then current Base Salary rather than the product of Executive’s then current Base Salary and then current target annual incentive bonus times three as set
forth in 7(b)(i)(C). If Executive elects not to extend the Period of Employment, Executive’s termination will be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as a termination by Executive without Good Reason under Section 8(a). 

(b) CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT BEYOND EXPIRATION OF PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT. If either party elects not to extend the Period of Employment
pursuant to Section 3, but the parties want to continue Executive’s employment without a written contract, such continued employment will be at will and shall not be deemed to extend any of the provisions of this Agreement. At such time,
Executive’s employment may thereafter be terminated at will by either Executive or the Company; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any termination of this Agreement or Executive’s termination of
employment hereunder. 
 11. POSSIBLE BENEFIT REDUCTION 

Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, to the extent that any payment, distribution, transfer or other benefit of any
type to or for Executive by the company or any of its parents, subsidiaries or other affiliates, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (including, without limitation, any
accelerated vesting of stock options or other equity-based awards granted by the Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries or other affiliates pursuant to the Agreement or otherwise) (collectively, the “Total Payments”) is or will be
subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Total Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the maximum amount of the Total Payments (after reduction) shall be one dollar
($1.00) less than the amount which would cause the Total Payments to be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction in Total Payments shall be made only if the reduction results in the receipt by
Executive, on an after-tax basis, of a greater amount of Total Payments compared to the amount of Total Payments that Executive would receive, on an after-tax basis (for
the purposes of clarity), taking into account Executive’s payment of the Excise Tax and any similar taxes due from Executive, if she received the full amount of the Total Payments. If such a reduction is required, and unless Executive has
otherwise notified the Company of the order in which benefits are to be reduced and such instructions from Executive do not result in any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall reduce the Total Payments in
the following order: (i) reduction of any cash severance; (ii) reduction of any accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (iii) reduction of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (iv) reduction of other
Total Payments. 

  
 9 

 12. CONSISTENT TREATMENT 

If compensation or benefits plans, programs or arrangements are offered to other executive officers of the Company, the Executive shall have
the right to participate in such plans, programs and arrangement on a basis not less favorable to the Executive than the terms and conditions of such plans, programs and arrangements generally applicable to the other executive officers of the
Company. 
 13. MEANS AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION 

Any termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be communicated by written notice of termination from the terminating
party to the other party. The notice of termination shall indicate the specific provision(s) of this Agreement relied upon in effecting the termination and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to provide a basis
for termination, if any such basis is required by the applicable provision(s) of this Agreement. 
 14. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS 

Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company and its affiliates and accordingly agrees
as follows: 
 (a) During the period of Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive will not, directly or indirectly,
(i) engage in any business for Executive’s own account that competes with the business of the Company or its affiliates (including, without limitation, businesses which the Company or its affiliates have specific plans to conduct in the
future and as to which Executive is aware of such planning), (ii) enter the employ of, or render any services to, any person engaged in any business that competes with the business of the Company or its affiliates, (iii) acquire a financial
interest in any person engaged in any business that competes with the business of the Company or its affiliates, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant. During the
period of Executive’s employment by the Company and for a period of one year thereafter (the “Restricted Period”), Executive will not, directly or indirectly, interfere with business relationships (whether formed before or
after the date of this Agreement) between the Company or any of its affiliates and clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members or investors of the Company or its affiliates. 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executive may, directly or indirectly, own, solely as an investment, securities
of any person engaged in the business of the Company or its affiliates which are publicly traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on an over-the-counter
market if Executive (i) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such person and (ii) does not, directly or indirectly, own five percent (5%) or more of any class of securities of such person. 

  
 10 

 (c) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or
encourage any employee or consultant of the Company or its affiliates to leave the employment of the Company or its affiliates. 
 (d) During
the Restricted Period, given her access to and knowledge of the Company’s proprietary and confidential information, client list, business strategy and pricing, among other proprietary knowledge, Executive will not use or disclose confidential
information to directly or indirectly, directly or indirectly, solicit or encourage to cease to work with the Company or its affiliates any clients or potential clients with the Company or its affiliates. 

(e) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the restrictions contained in this Section 14
to be reasonable, if a final determination is made by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions
of this Agreement shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be enforceable. Alternatively, if any arbitrator
or court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Agreement is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the enforceability of any of the other
restrictions contained herein. 
 15. CONFIDENTIALITY. 

(a) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after her employment with the Company), unless compelled by lawful process, disclose or
use for her own benefit or purposes or the benefit or purposes of any other person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or enterprise other than the Company and any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates, any trade secrets, or other confidential data or information relating to customers, development programs, costs, marketing, trading, investment, sales activities, promotion, credit and financial data, manufacturing processes, financing
methods, plans, or the business and affairs of the Company generally, or of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to information which is not unique to the Company or which is generally known
to the industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant. 
 (b) Executive agrees that upon
termination of her employment with the Company for any reason, she will return to the Company immediately all memoranda, books, papers, plans, information, letters and other data, and all copies thereof or therefrom, in any way relating to the
business of the Company and its affiliates, except that she may retain personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain confidential information of the type described in the preceding sentence. Executive further agrees that she will not
retain or use for her account at any time any trade names, trademark or other proprietary business designation used or owned in connection with the business of the Company or its affiliates. 

  
 11 

 (c) Executive executed a Confidentiality, Inventions and
Non-Solicitation Agreement dated June 5, 2000 (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). Executive agrees that she has complied with the Confidentiality Agreement. The Confidentiality Agreement
continues in effect in accordance with its terms, as modified by Section 15(d) below. 
 (d) Nothing in this Agreement or in the
Confidentiality Agreement limits Executive’s right (i) to discuss the terms, wages, and working conditions of the Executive’s employment to the extent permitted and/or protected by applicable labor laws, (ii) to report
confidential information in a confidential manner either to a federal, state or local government official or to an attorney where such disclosure is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (iii) to
disclose confidential information in an anti-retaliation lawsuit or other legal proceeding, so long as that disclosure or filing is made under seal and Executive does not otherwise disclose such confidential information, except pursuant to court
order. The Company encourages Executive, to the extent legally permitted, to give the Company the earliest possible notice of any such report or disclosure. In addition, Executive may truthfully respond to a lawful and valid subpoena or other legal
process but shall give the Company the earliest possible notice thereof, and shall, as much in advance of the return date as possible, make available to the Company and its counsel the documents and other information sought and shall assist such
counsel in resisting or otherwise responding to such process. In addition, nothing in this Agreement or in the Confidentiality Agreement shall limit or restrict in any way the Executive’s immunity from liability for disclosing the
Company’s trade secrets as specifically permitted by 18 U.S. Code Section 1833, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: 

“(b) Immunity From Liability For Confidential Disclosure Of A Trade Secret To The Government Or In A Court Filing. 

(1) Immunity. An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a
trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation
of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. 

(2) Use of Trade Secret Information in Anti-Retaliation Lawsuit. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting
a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (A) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and
(B) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.” 
 This Section 15(d) controls in the event of any inconsistency or
conflict with any other provision of this Agreement or of the Confidentiality Agreement. 

  
 12 

 16. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE 

Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of
Section 14 or Section 15 would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, shall be
entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. 

17. ASSIGNMENT 
 This Agreement is
personal in its nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that, in the event of a merger, consolidation, or transfer
or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company with or to any other individual(s) or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such successor and such successor
shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder. 
 18. GOVERNING LAW 

This Agreement and the legal relations hereby created between the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed under and in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof. 
 19. ENTIRE AGREEMENT 

This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties hereto respecting the matters within its scope. This Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements of the parties hereto on the subject matter hereof. Any prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings relating to the subject matter hereof shall be deemed to be merged into this Agreement and to the extent
inconsistent herewith, such negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings shall be deemed to be of no force or effect. There are no representations, warranties, or agreements, whether express or implied, or oral or written,
with respect to the subject matter hereof, except as set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement is not intended to modify or extinguish any rights or obligations contained in (i) any stock option, restricted stock or other
equity or equity-based award agreement between Executive and the Company that was executed prior to the date hereof or (ii) any indemnification agreement between Executive and the Company prior to the date hereof. 

  
 13 

 20. POST-TERMINATION COOPERATION 

Executive agrees that following the termination of her employment for any reason, she shall reasonably cooperate at mutually convenient times
in the Company’s defense against any threatened or pending litigation or in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body that relates to any events or actions which occurred during the term of Executive’s employment
with the Company. The Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in connection with such cooperation. Executive shall be compensated for her time at a mutually agreed upon rate for any services other than the
provision of information to the Company or its counsel and/or testifying as a witness, which she shall undertake without any compensation.      

21. MODIFICATIONS 
 This Agreement shall
not be modified by any oral agreement, either express or implied, and all modifications hereof shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. 

22. WAIVER 
 Failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor shall any waiver or relinquishment of, or failure to insist upon strict compliance with, any right or power
hereunder at any one or more times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or times. 
 23. NUMBER AND GENDER

 Where the context requires, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and any gender shall include
all other genders. 
 24. SECTION HEADINGS 

The section headings in this Agreement are for the purpose of convenience only and shall not limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof.

  
 14 

 25. ATTORNEYS’ FEES 

Executive and the Company agree that in any action arising out of this Agreement, each side shall bear its own attorneys’ fees and costs
incurred by it or her in connection with such action. 
 26. SEVERABILITY 

In the event that an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction determines that any portion of this Agreement is in violation of any statute
or public policy, then only the portions of this Agreement which violate such statute or public policy shall be stricken, and all portions of this Agreement which do not violate any statute or public policy shall continue in full force and effect.
Furthermore, any order striking any portion of this Agreement shall modify the stricken terms as narrowly as possible to give as much effect as possible to the intentions of the parties under this Agreement. 

27. NOTICES 
 All notices under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered or mailed postage prepaid, by certified mail, return receipt requested: 

(a) if to the Company: 
 Attn:
General Counsel 
 (b) if to Executive, to the Executive at the Executive’s last address reflected in the Company’s payroll
records. 
 Notice shall be effective when personally delivered, or five (5) business days after being so mailed. Any party may alter the address to
which communications or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in conformity with the provisions of this Section 27 for the giving of notice. 

28. COUNTERPARTS 
 This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken
together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties hereto reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose. 

29. WITHHOLDING TAXES 
 The Company may
withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. 

  
 15 

 30. SECTION 409A 

(a) If the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1, 409A-1(i) as of the date of the Executive’s separation from service, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Section 6, 7 or 8, as applicable, until the earlier of
(i) the date which is six (6) months after the Executive’s separation from service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. The provision of this Section 30 shall only apply if, and to
the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive upon or in the six (6) month period
following the Executive’s separation from service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 30 shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six
(6) months after the Executive’s separation from service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of the Executive’s death). 

(b) To the extent that any reimbursements pursuant to Section 5 are taxable to the Executive, any reimbursement payment due to the
Executive pursuant to any such provision shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expenses were incurred. The provision of benefits pursuant to
Section 7(b)(iii) and reimbursements pursuant to Section 5 are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefits and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that the Executive receives in one taxable year shall not affect the
amount of such benefits or reimbursements that the Executive receives in any other taxable year. 
 (c) This Agreement is intended to comply
with, and avoid any tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A of the Code, and shall be construed and interpreted accordingly. Except for the Company’s withholding right pursuant to Section 29, Executive shall be responsible for any and
all taxes that may result from the compensation, payments and other benefits contemplated by this Agreement. 
 31. LEGAL COUNSEL; MUTUAL DRAFTING

 Each party recognizes that this is a legally binding contract and acknowledges and agrees that they had had the opportunity to consult
with legal counsel of their choice. Each party has cooperated in the drafting, negotiation and preparation of this Agreement. Hence, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same shall not be construed against either party on the basis
of that party being the drafter of such language. Executive agrees and acknowledges that she has read and understands this Agreement, is entering into it freely and voluntarily and has been advised to seek counsel prior to entering into this
Agreement and has had ample opportunity to do so. 

  
 16 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Executive have executed this Employment Agreement as of the
date first above written. 
  

			
	THE COMPANY:
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Donald B. Murray

	Name:	 	Donald B. Murray
	Title:	 	Chairman of the Board
	
	EXECUTIVE:
	
	 /s/ Kate W. Duchene

	Kate W. Duchene

  
 17 

 EXHIBIT A 

Separation and General Release Agreement 

 SEVERANCE AND GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT 

In exchange for and consideration of the covenants undertaken and releases contained in this Severance and General Release Agreement
(“Agreement”),                     (“Employee”) and Resources Connection, LLC dba Resources Global Professionals
(“RGP”), agree as follows: 
 1. Termination: Effective
                    , 20    , RGP and Employee mutually agree that Employee’s employment with RGP and its affiliates shall
terminate. Accordingly, RGP and Employee acknowledge that any employment or contractual relationship between them terminated on                     ,
20    , and that they have no further employment or contractual relationship except as may arise out of this Agreement. 

[OR] 
 Resignation:
Effective                     , 20    , RGP and Employee mutually agree that Employee will resign [his/her] position as
                    and that [his/her] employment with RGP and its affiliates shall be terminated. Accordingly, RGP and Employee acknowledge
that any employment or contractual relationship between them will terminate on                     , 20    , and that they have
no further employment or contractual relationship except as may arise out of this Agreement. 
 2. Severance: As a severance payment, and
assuming no revocation of this Agreement, RGP shall pay to Employee the equivalent of                      (    ) weeks of
compensation, less standard withholding and authorized deductions. As part of the severance package, and assuming no revocation of this Agreement, RGP also agrees to pay to Employee a sum equivalent to the cost of
         (    ) months of COBRA coverage for Employee at Employee’s current benefit elections, less standard withholding and authorized deductions. [These payments/This payment]
shall be made in one lump sum within fourteen (14) days after the execution of this Agreement. [Note: If over 40, must be at least 10 days after.] Employee confirms that [he/she] has been paid any and all accrued wages, including
any bonus, retirement, and any other payments or benefits and none shall accrue beyond                     , 20    , [Note:
this is the termination date] other than as set forth in this Agreement. 
 3. Stock Options: Employee’s stock option award which was
originally granted during [his/her] employment, shall vest as set forth in the applicable equity incentive plan. As set forth in the applicable equity incentive plan, Employee shall have [30/90] days from the date of [his/her]
termination to exercise any or all of any vested options then remaining. 
 4. Company Property: Employee warrants and represents that
[he/she] has returned any and all property belonging to RGP. 

 5. No Admission of Liability: RGP expressly denies any violation of any of its policies,
procedures, state or federal laws or regulations. Accordingly, while this Agreement resolves all issues between Employee and RGP relating to alleged violation of RGP policies or procedures or any state or federal law or regulation, if any, this
Agreement does not constitute an adjudication or finding on the merits and it is not, and shall not be construed as, an admission by RGP of any violation of its policies, procedures, state or federal laws or regulations. Moreover, neither this
Agreement nor anything in this Agreement shall be construed to be or shall be admissible in any proceeding as evidence of or an admission by RGP of any violation of its policies, procedures, state or federal laws or regulations. This Agreement may
be introduced, however, in any proceeding to enforce the Agreement. Such introduction shall be pursuant to an order protecting its confidentiality. 
 6.
Release: Except for those obligations created by or arising out of this Agreement, Employee, on behalf of [himself/herself], [his/her] descendants, dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and successors,
and each of them, hereby acknowledges full and complete satisfaction of and releases and discharges and covenants not to sue RGP, its divisions, affiliated corporations, past and present, and each of them, as well as its and their directors,
officers, managers, shareholders, representatives, assignees, successors, agents and employees, past and present, and each of them (individually and collectively, “Releasees”). This release applies to any and all claims, wages, agreements,
obligations, demands, rights, causes of action and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected (collectively “Claims”), arising out of or in any way connected
with Employee’s employment relationship with, or [his/her] resignation, separation or termination from, RGP, including, without limitation, any Claims for severance pay, bonus or similar benefit, sick leave, personal time off,
retirement, vacation pay, holiday pay, life insurance, health or medical insurance or any other non-ERISA fringe benefit, workers’ compensation or disability, or any other Claims resulting from any act or
omission by or on the part of Releasees committed or omitted prior to the date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any Claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the                     [State] antidiscrimination laws, or any other federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.

 7. Bar to Claims: It is a further condition of the consideration hereof and is the intention of both parties in executing this instrument
that the same shall be effective as a bar as to each and every claim, demand and cause of action hereinabove specified and, in furtherance of this intention, Employee hereby expressly consents that this Agreement shall be given full force and effect
according to each and all of its express terms and conditions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected claims, demands and causes of actions, if any, as well as those relating to any other claims, demands and causes of actions
hereinabove specified. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be interpreted to prevent any governmental agency from pursuing any matter which it deems appropriate or to prevent Employee from filing a charge or administrative complaint with any
governmental administrative agency; provided, however, that any and all remedies available on behalf of Employee are covered by the releases in this Agreement. 

 8. Unknown Claims: Employee acknowledges that [he/she] may hereafter discover claims or
facts in addition to or different from those which [he/she] now knows or believes to exist with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and which, if known or suspected at the time of executing this Agreement, may have materially
affected the terms of this Agreement. Nevertheless, Employee hereby waives any right, claim or cause of action that might arise as a result of such different or additional claims or facts. Employee acknowledges that [he/she] understands the
significance and consequence of such release and such specific waiver. 
 [OR, If California Employee] 

Unknown Claims: It is the intention of Employee in executing this instrument that the same shall be effective as a bar to each and every claim,
demand and cause of action hereinabove specified. In furtherance of this intention, Employee hereby expressly waives any and all rights and benefits conferred upon [him/her] by the provisions of SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE and
expressly consents that this Agreement shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those related to unknown and unsuspected claims, demands and causes of action, if any, as well as
those relating to any other claims, demands and causes of action hereinabove specified. SECTION 1542 provides: 
 “A GENERAL RELEASE
DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” 

Employee acknowledges that [he/she] may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to or different from those which Employee now knows or believes
to exist with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and which, if known or suspected at the time of executing this Agreement, may have materially affected this settlement. Nevertheless, Employee hereby waives any right, claim or cause of
action that might arise as a result of such different or additional claims or facts. Employee acknowledges that [he/she] understands the significance and consequence of such release and such specific waiver of SECTION 1542. 

[If OVER 40] 
 9. ADEA
Waiver: Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by entering into this Agreement, [he/she] is waiving any and all rights or claims that [he/she] may have arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967,
as amended, which have arisen on or before the date of execution of this Agreement. Employee further expressly acknowledges and agrees that: 
  

	 	a.	In return for this Agreement [he/she] will receive compensation beyond that which [he/she] already was entitled to receive before entering into this Agreement; 

	 	b.	[He/She] is hereby advised in writing by this Agreement to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement; 

  

	 	c.	[He/She] was given a copy of this Agreement on                     , 200    , and informed
that (i) [he/she] had 21 days within which to consider the Agreement; (ii) the 21-day period to consider this Agreement will not re-start or be extended if
changes (whether material or immaterial) are made to this Agreement after the date it is first provided to Employee; (iii) Employee may waive the 21-day period; and (iv) if Employee signs this
Agreement before the end of such 21-day period, Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee will have done so voluntarily and with full knowledge that Employee is waiving [his/her] right to have 21
days to consider this Agreement. 

  

	 	d.	[He/She] was informed that [he/she] has seven (7) days following the date that Employee signs this Agreement in which to revoke the Agreement, and that this Agreement will become null and void if
Employee elects revocation during that time. Any revocation must be in writing and must be received by RGP (delivered to [insert name of ER Director]) during the seven-day revocation period. In the
event that Employee exercises [his/her] right of revocation, neither RGP nor Employee will have any obligations under this Agreement. 

  

	 	e.	Nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes Employee from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties or
costs from doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law. 

 10. Confidentiality: The parties agree to keep the terms
and conditions of this Agreement confidential. Employee agrees that [he/she] will not disclose the terms of this Agreement to any individual, including, but not limited to, any current or former employee of RGP, provided however, that
Employee may disclose the terms of the Agreement to [his/her] personal financial or tax advisors who have a legitimate need to know and who shall also agree to be bound by this confidentiality provision. RGP agrees that it will not disclose
the terms of this Agreement to any individual, except for Resource’s executive management, legal or tax advisors, or other RGP personnel who have a legitimate need to know in order to execute this Agreement, all of whom shall also agree to be
bound by this confidentiality provision. The parties agree that this confidentiality provision is a material term of the Agreement and, if breached, damages would be difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, either party found in breach of this provision
shall pay to the non-breaching party liquidated damages in the amount of $5,000.00 per occurrence, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred to enforce this provision. 

11. Non-Disparagement: Employee and RGP agree that they will not make any defamatory or disparaging oral
or written comments or statements concerning the other, [his/her] or its business, reputation, employees, or past or present directors or affiliates or subsidiaries. The parties agree that this
non-disparagement clause is a material term of the Agreement and, if breached, damages would be difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, either party found in breach of this provision shall pay to the non-breaching party liquidated damages in the amount of $5,000.00 per occurrence, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred to enforce this provision. 

 12. Severability: If any provision of this Agreement or its application is held invalid, the
invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application and, therefore, the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable. 

Confidentiality, Employee Inventions and Non-Solicitation Agreement: In accordance with the paragraph
below, the provisions of the Confidentiality, Employee Inventions and Non-Solicitation Agreement (“Confidentiality Agreement”) signed by Employee on
            , 200    , and annexed hereto as Exhibit A, shall remain in full force and effect. The parties agree that this is a material term of this Agreement and, if
breached, damages would be difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, if Employee is found in breach of this provision, [he/she] shall pay to RGP liquidated damages in the amount of $5,000.00 per occurrence, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees
incurred to enforce this provision. You understand that nothing in this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement is intended to interfere with or discourage a good faith disclosure by you to any governmental entity related to a suspected violation
of the law and that, notwithstanding your nondisclosure obligations in your Confidentiality Agreement or this Agreement, you will not be criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret
(a) that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) that is made in a complaint or other document
filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. In addition, you understand that if you file a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law, you may disclose the trade secret to your attorney and
use the trade secret information in the court proceeding only if you file any document containing the trade secret under seal and do not otherwise disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to a court order. 

13. Integrated Agreement: This Agreement is an integrated agreement and is the entire agreement and final understanding between the parties
concerning Employee’s employment, Employee’s termination from RGP and the other subject matters addressed herein. Accordingly, it supersedes all prior negotiations and all agreements whether written or oral, concerning the subject matters
herein, with the exception of the Confidentiality, Employee Inventions and Non-Solicitation Agreement, as noted herein. This Agreement may be modified only by a writing signed by the parties. 

14. No Assignment: Employee warrants and represents that [he/she] has not heretofore assigned or transferred to any person not a party to
this Agreement any released matter or any part or portion thereof and Employee shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless RGP from and against any claim based on or in connection with or arising out of any such assignment or transfer made, purported
or claimed. 

 15. Arbitration: Any controversy or claim between Employee and RGP arising out of, relating to or
connected with this Agreement, its enforcement or interpretation, or because of an alleged breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any of its provisions, shall be submitted to arbitration, to be held in
                    County [County in which employee works], in accordance with the applicable state statutory scheme. In the event either
party institutes arbitration under this Agreement, the party prevailing in any such dispute shall be entitled, in addition to all other relief, to reasonable attorneys’ fees relating to such arbitration. The nonprevailing party shall be
responsible for all costs of the arbitration, including but not limited to, the arbitration fees, and court reporter fees. 
 17. Telecopied
Signatures: In order to expedite the execution of this Agreement, telecopied signatures may be used in place of original signatures on this Agreement or any document delivered pursuant hereto. Employee and RGP intend to be bound by the
signatures on the telecopied document, are aware that the other party will rely on the telecopied signatures, and hereby waive any defenses to the enforcement of the terms of this Agreement based on the use of and reliance upon telecopied
signatures. Following any facsimile transmittal, the respective party shall deliver the original instrument by reputable overnight courier in accordance with the notice provisions of this Agreement. 

18. Governing Law: The rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by, the
laws of the State of                     [State in which employee works] without regard to principles of conflict of laws. 

19. Drafting of Agreement: Each party has cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement. Hence, this Agreement shall not be
construed against any party on the basis that the party was the drafter, and Employee waives the benefits of any statutory or other presumption to the contrary. 

20. Advice of Counsel: In entering this Agreement, the parties represent that they have relied upon (or been given an opportunity to rely upon)
the advice of their attorneys, who are attorneys of their own choice, and that the terms of this Agreement have been completely read and explained to them by their attorneys (or they have chosen to forgo such advice and explanation), and that those
terms are fully understood and voluntarily accepted by them. 
 21. Waiver of Breach: No waiver of any breach of any term or provision of this
Agreement shall be construed to be, or shall be, a waiver of any other breach of this Agreement. No waiver shall be binding unless in writing and signed by the party waiving the breach. 

22. Supplementary Documents: All parties agree to cooperate fully and to execute any and all supplementary documents and to take all additional
actions that may be necessary or appropriate to give full force to the basic terms and intent of this Agreement and which are not inconsistent with its terms. 

23. Notice: Any notice required to be given to RGP pursuant to this Agreement, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given either when served personally or via facsimile and addressed to the appropriate party. Any notice required to be given to Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given when served
personally, by first class mail or via facsimile. Notices to RGP shall be effective only when addressed to: Chief Legal Officer, Resources Global Professionals, 17101 Armstrong Avenue, Irvine, California 92614; facsimile (714) 430-6424. Notice to Employee shall be effective only when addressed to:                     . 

 24.    Headings Not Controlling: Headings are used only for ease of reference
and are not controlling. 
 The undersigned have read and understand the consequences of this Agreement and voluntarily sign it. The undersigned declare
under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. 
 EXECUTED this
            day of                     , 2016, in Irvine, Orange County, California. 

	
	
	   

	Herbert M. Mueller
	 Chief Financial Officer
 For Resources
Connection LLC

 EXECUTED this             day of
            , 2016, in                     [CITY],
                     County,
                    . 

	
	
	   

	[Employee Name]

 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WAIVER 

I,                     , hereby
acknowledge that I was given 21 days to consider the foregoing Agreement and voluntarily chose to sign the Agreement prior to the expiration of the 21-day period. 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
                    [State in which employee works] that the foregoing is true and correct. 

EXECUTED this         day of
                    2016, at
                    County,
                    [State]. 
  

	
	  

	 [Employee Name]

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