A logical time for many people to retire (if eligible) or leave the company is at yearend. So if the rumors are true, once announced, it can easily take a few months to communicate, then determine which positions will be eliminated or which "volunteers" will be selected based on objective / non-discriminatory criteria. Once given a "reallocation" packet, employees have six weeks or so decide whether to accept, then sign the release agreement. If all goes well, the employees are off the books (and expense ledgers) before yearend and a lower cost baseline begins Jan 1. Another wildcard is whether changes to retirement are announced. Coupled with a VERP program, employees may be tempted to exit, locking in the prior retirement program benefits.
