Buyout Comes with a Catch for Federal Workers

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Local federal workers are being offered buyouts as part of a presidential effort to reduce the size of the government. Employees have started receiving email copies of the official contract.

The buyouts, structured as deferred resignations, would see employees continue to receive pay through September 30, 2025, if they resign by February 6th. This initiative aims to shrink the federal workforce.

The contracts, distributed by individual agencies’ HR departments, echo the terms previously outlined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. However, a key addition stipulates that employees signing the agreement forfeit their right to sue the agency regarding their employment or the buyout offer.

This waiver also extends to potential future claims by the employee’s union.

The legality of these buyouts has been questioned by some employment lawyers, citing Congress’s authority over worker pay. Federal agencies have responded with assurances to their staff, affirming the offers’ validity.

Despite these assurances, many federal employees remain apprehensive. Concerns linger about eligibility criteria and the potential for delayed severance payments due to possible legal challenges.


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