Early-Out Rules Expanded

Another set of interim rules published by OPM on the same day carry out a separate provision of the same law creating authority to use early retirement offers for work force restructuring and improving skills mixes. The rules expand on the prior use of early-outs only in reduction-in-force situations. As with early outs for RIFs, agencies would have to show OPM that they need the authority and describe how they plan to use it. Offers could be limited according to function, geographic area and other factors. The rules serve as a companion to others issued earlier in the year under the same law creating authority to use buyout separation incentive payments for work force reshaping as well as during job cutting.