layoff/retirement

[gaxx]

After 22 yrs of service and 10 months to age 55; working for large insurance company; my job is being downsized from three to two in just my location (one of 20 in the state).

Have been told two will be selected; one will be laid off. I am the last one promoted to this position, one year ago.

My question is I have nothing in writing yet; if I request to take early retirement at 55 (in 10 months) woud I have a better chance I won't be laid off? In fact, coud they legally lay me off if I have notified the company of my retirement.

Although I will have vested interest in retirement, I need my group insuance retirement benefits. To have these I must be employed on date of retirement.

Any advice woud be appreciated.

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[peter]

You would have an excellent case for age discrimination, and if they fire you...

THE NEXT DAY start seeing some lawyers....

The company just might settle this fast..

Now if they reduced the force in every department all 20 of them....i guess you be out of luck, because if its applied evenly then they can say last hired first fired.

 

[peter]

Is there any reason for the downsizing..such as business if off 33% from last year so they need one less worker?

 

[gaxx]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by peter:
Is there any reason for the downsizing..such as business if off 33% from last year so they need one less worker?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

No, originally there were two Field Offices which they combined into one. I was a staff person in the one office. Anticipating new software package coming to the agents, they added a new specialist to each of the 20 field offices. In our case, because they combined two offices, instead of adding another staff person, they made me a half staff person, half specialist at a job class FA1 (two Sr. Specialists were FA2 - one job level higher) all for 60 agents. There are several offices where there are two specialists for 35 agents; some four specialits for 54 agents. My understanding is that they will down size them all eventually as the new software was tabled. Now they decided to make two offices again with one speciaist in each.

I was the last put on but the first to get al three LICENSES for the job. In fact, there is one Sr. Specialist I will be going up against who doesn't have her last Series 6 license - she has flunked her test twice and they are giving her virtually several weeks company time to study for it again- test Oct. 23rd. I never took any company time to study and even took my exam on a Sunday. They are waiting until then before they interview the three of us. She cannot have this position unless she passes the test.

In the meantime they have told me it would be wise to look at company postings for any openings. There was one I put in for today which is approx. 5 job classes below my current job class in a dept. I never worked in before at our Regiona Office. So if I get it it would go into my shield as employee initiated demotion I guess.

I figured it was more important I get to age 55 to get my group insuance benefits retirement package gives you (I will be 55 in 10 months).

If it weren't for the insurance, I would just wait them out and let them let me go with severance if I didn't compete. I don't beieve I will compete as the others are more technical knowedge than myself although the one who hasn't passed her test in the last two salary reviews received an unacceptable rating and currently an acceptable rating. In the year I have been there, I received a rating one higher "commendable" .... if fact 95% of my performance ratings in the 22 years have been commendable or superior.

This is so very frustrating. I have two children in college and I don't know who to handle things. Sorry so long winded.