ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses various ways employees can “volunteer” for a RIF (reduction in Force) and what causes them to be eligible to do so.
Key takeaways:
- The best time to volunteer
- What causes someone to be eligible to volunteer
- What an employee can expect to happen to their benefits
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Transcript of this episode coming soon:
Originally released on 3/7/2025
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As a couple million federal employees are bracing for what a RIF is going to look like, there’s a few of you wondering, can you volunteer? It’s an interesting question and one that I think we need to explore today, so if you’re wondering if you can volunteer for a RRIF, today’s episode is for you.
Hi, I’m Chris Kowalik of ProFeds, and welcome to the FedImpact Podcast where we offer candid insights on your federal retirement.
Reduction in Force – Can I Volunteer for a RIFF?
This is an interesting topic, can you volunteer? The answer is yes, kind of. I won’t say it’s everybody can volunteer, but there are some voluntary actions that you can take. I do want to contrast this with the deferred resignation offer that was made back in January. That was a voluntary option to be able to leave and have all that extra pay through September 30th and all of that. That ship has sailed, so there’s no more volunteering for that.
However, when we think of you volunteering for a RRIF, what you can volunteer for is an early out, or a VERA, and then also a voluntary separation incentive payment, or the cash buyout called a VSIP. You’re able to do that because the V in both those acronyms stands for voluntary.
If your agency offers an early out and they offer a cash buyout or either one of those and you take them, that is your way of volunteering for the RIF. What you can’t volunteer for is a discontinued service retirement or a severance pay, just a flat you get nothing kind of deal.
You’re going to have to wait for this process to play out to see if you’re really on the chopping block and if you’re asked to leave. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of great opportunity to volunteer, but there are those two programs, the VERA and the VSIP, that might allow you to do so.
I hope that this has been helpful. Maybe not what you wanted to hear, but for those of you trying to make this simpler for your colleagues, if you perhaps have some other opportunities, certainly a way that you could consider participating in the RIF by volunteering through a VERA or a VSIP. Of course, you’re always free to leave government service and go pursue some of those other options, but maybe not what you were expecting.
Get Connected &Next Steps
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