IBM is offering employees who are nearing retirement -- and may beworried about a layoff -- a one-time voluntary program that wouldensure their employment through Dec. 31, 2013. The program, called "Transition to Retirement," would cut a workersschedule and pay, but continue providing full benefits until thejob guarantee's expiration date. The program, described in a letter addressed to IBM managers,"offers participants 70% of their pay for working 60% of theirschedule." Participating employees would receive "the same benefits they dotoday, most at a full-time level, including health benefits and401(k) Plus Plan automatic company contributions." The letter was received by the Alliance@IBM/CWA Local 1701, whichmade it available. The contents were confirmed by IBM. In the letter to managers, IBM said that "a number of our employeeswith skills and knowledge critical to our success are at or nearingretirement eligibility." The new program provides managers with the ability to forecasttheir workforce needs and "to better plan for that transition." Employees enrolling in the program "will also be exempt from anyresource actions that may occur during the Transition to Retirementperiod." In return, "all participants agree to retire on or beforeDecember 31, 2013," the letter said. At the end of last year IBM employed 433,236 worldwide, up from426,751 in 2010. The workforce totals include wholly owned IBMsubsidiaries. At the same time, IBM has been reducing its U.S. workforce . The most recent cutback came in February, when nearly 1,900 jobs were eliminated , according to the Alliance, which gathers employment data from IBMemployees. In 2006, IBM employed about 127,000 in U.S. The Alliance nowestimates the U.S. workforce at around 95,000. In an email response to questions from Computerworld, IBM spokesmanDoug Shelton described the program as "rather unique." "It's an innovative program to respond to interest from US IBMerswho have asked for ways to ease into transition. But it also helpsIBM, as we now can better plan for their eventual retirement bypreparing to build the skills that they take with them and/or hirebehind them, where needed. And the program is totally voluntary,"Shelton added. IBM wouldn't say how many employees will be eligible to participatein the Transition to Retirement program. The program is being triedonly in the U.S. at this point, though similar programs may belaunched in other countries. The transition program isn't being offered in lieu of layoffs, orwhat IBM consistently characterizes as workforce rebalancing. "IBM is will continue to rebalance its skills and resources basedon client needs," said Shelton. He added that the Transition toRetirement program has been developed in response to what employeesand business units have been asking for. Patrick Thibodeau covers SaaS and enterprise applications,outsourcing, government IT policies, data centers and IT workforceissues for Computerworld. Follow Patrick on Twitter at @DCgov , or subscribe to Patrick's RSS feed . His e-mail address is . Read more about management and careers in Computerworld's Management and Careers Topic Center. I am an expert from chinaled-lights.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Dimmable Led Panel Light Manufacturer , China 5050 SMD Led Strip Light, Waterproof Led Strip Lights,and more.
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