His choices would have to have been: take the severance and be gone, or just be gone, and in some states if you don't take the severance, then another employee is going to be gone.

However, taking a severance when work was still available to you isn't a reason to get unemployment. There are some exceptions maybe not available in MA, but if by taking the severance he was eligible for a pension, and by staying he would forfeit that pension that can provide good cause to quit.

It boils down to just why did he take the servance. Was it because he didn't want to work anymore or was it because if he stayed, he'd suffer adverse consequences?