[Mick]

I doubt that most companies want to offer buyouts.  I think the cost of a buyout would be generally more expensive than the increased workmen's comp premium.  The more common practice is to furlough those you want back and lay off those you don't.

I've also seen people interested in leaving a company either to go elsewhere or retire "volunteer" to be part of layoffs, this will sometimes get you in the layoff pool because if department X needs to layoff 10 people and won't be allowed to hire anyone for a while then they will sometimes take the "volunteer" so they only lose 10 instead of 11 people

Gut feel, how prevalent do you think that is?  I've been managing people for 30 years, with four major layoffs under my belt.  It's happened to me one time in all that time.

[Mick]

I doubt that most companies want to offer buyouts.  I think the cost of a buyout would be generally more expensive than the increased workmen's comp premium.  The more common practice is to furlough those you want back and lay off those you don't.

I've also seen people interested in leaving a company either to go elsewhere or retire "volunteer" to be part of layoffs, this will sometimes get you in the layoff pool because if department X needs to layoff 10 people and won't be allowed to hire anyone for a while then they will sometimes take the "volunteer" so they only lose 10 instead of 11 people

Gut feel, how prevalent do you think that is?  I've been managing people for 30 years, with four major layoffs under my belt.  It's happened to me one time in all that time.