Q. I am 62, with 20 years and 10 months of service. My retirement application with a date of Dec. 31, 2013, was accepted June 13, and my retirement representative has begun work on this. Can I still be affected by a reduction in force even though the government has my retirement application? I am also having a little difficulty understanding the Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay.
A. While being RIF’ed is conceivable, it’s highly unlikely. As for the VSIP, what’s not to understand? The VSIP is an incentive payment that encourages employees to retire or, if they aren’t eligible to retire, resign. It’s a targeted tool focused on positions the agency most needs to eliminate.