Voluntary redundancy (VR) is a financial incentive offered by an organisation to encourage employees to voluntarily resign, typically in downsizing or restructuring situations. The purpose is to avoid layoffs or, in certain cases, to circumvent union employee regulation laws.
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Reasons
A voluntary redundancy programme is not always driven by short term revenue goals. It can also be motivated by the strategic choice to change the age structure within the company. According to research, people who accept voluntary redundancy may at times return to the company after changes in the company's prospects, strategic vision, or economic climate and, in doing so, may bring new ideas.
The difference between voluntary redundancy and other programmes is that VR is typically offered to a specific age group and experience level, for example, everyone between 40–50 years who has been with the company for at least 5 years.
Examples
LM Ericsson implemented a VR programme in spring of 2006. It offered the programme to 17,000 employees in Sweden between the ages of 35 and 50. Those who voluntarily left were given between 12 and 16 months of severance, 50,000 Swedish kronor, and a course in entrepreneurship coupled with job placement services. The goal was to have a maximum of 1,000 employees volunteer for the programme.
Delta Air Lines, in the aftermath of its bankruptcy filing, offered a programme that included limited flight benefits for a set period after voluntary resignation. In light of rising fuel prices, it turned back to a VR programme. The particulars of that severance package are unknown. Generally, voluntary redundancy lump sum payments are higher than that of involuntary redundancies.