@TK7ucGJ-2jud
Actually they do provide incentives for RIFs, even VRIFS...the incentive is being eligible for the same severance package as if you were terminated for performance...or for cause as in most for cases legal won't take the risk of firing without the signed release docs. In some cases, they also offer to bridge service to get someone to the mandatory age. There was talk when I left about the leadership team starting to work on changes to the RIF policy so allow a smaller than normal severance payment for a RIF, smaller even still for a VRIF, vs performance term, it will come eventually. The vacation change is just the first step, no more vacation to pay out when you fire people...cost savings.
Only for those 2-3 months into retirement is a bit of an exaggeration...it depends on your own financial circumstances...I knew people that were 2-3 years from retiring, not months, and took a VRIF...the severance package pay was enough to allow them to retire early or they took the severance and got a service bridge to get to mandatory age.
You might have worked there for 15 years...I worked there for 10...in HR...and did the above routinely. Almost 2000 souls RIF'd in the my 10 years there...so sad.