DOWNSIZING IN THE NEW ECONOMY:  CONDUCTING REDUCTIONS IN FORCE WHILE MINIMIZING THE RISK OF LITIGATION

I.            INTRODUCTION

                        As economic analysts have reported that the economy may be headed toward a recession, many employers are taking cost‑saving measures designed to increase operational efficiency.  Perhaps the most widely utilized method of reducing labor costs is the reduction in force, or “RIF.”   However, if not carefully planned in advance, RIFs can result in substantial liability which may offset any initial savings the employer achieves through the reduction itself.  Disputes arising in the context of workforce reductions present numerous labor law issues and challenges for employers, as well as claims managers and underwriters charged with EPL coverages.  Nonetheless, with proper planning and advice, employment claims in the wake of upcoming layoffs can be either avoided, or managed appropriately. 

            A.            Recent Increase In Number Of Layoffs

            The number of layoffs in recent months has increased significantly – a sobering development likely to continue for the near future at the very least.  New claims filed with state agencies for unemployment insurance benefits climbed by 18,000 to a total of 383,000 during the week ending March 31, 2001, the highest level since July 1998.  In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on May 17, 2001 that the number of mass layoffs lasting at least 31 days totaled 1,664 in the first quarter of 2001 and resulted in job loss for 305,227 workers, as compared to only 208,082 in the first quarter of 1998.  These numbers represent the highest totals found by the agency since it commenced tallying such statistics in 1995.  Sixteen percent of these mass layoffs involved the permanent closure of worksites, with the greatest number occurring in general merchandising stores.  Of the 1,664 mass layoffs occurring in the first quarter of this year, 26 involved the termination of 1,000 or more employees.

            B.            Alternatives To Layoffs May Reduce The Risk Of Claims

                        Although employers are capable of realizing short‑term savings through RIFs, large layoffs can cause companies to incur hidden costs.  For example, economically-driven RlFs may require the involuntary termination of good workers.  Such adverse employment actions impact negatively on morale, affecting both the employees who leave the company and those who remain.  In addition, large scale terminations can eliminate disproportionate numbers of older, female and minority employees. This creates the potential for class action and individual wrongful discharge lawsuits.  In the absence of proper documentation, an employer may find it difficult to convince a court, administrative agency or other third party of the true reasons for its actions.

Therefore, before planning a reduction in force, employers should consider whether other options are available, including:  (1) hiring freezes; (2) wage freezes; (3) postponement of wage increases; (4) reducing fringe benefits, including employee sharing of insurance premiums, increased insurance deductibles and limited benefit eligibility for newer employees;  (5) work furloughs;  (6) reducing work hours with proportionate pay cuts;  (7) assessing expected job attrition; (8) allowing affected employees to transfer to other vacant positions within the organization; (9) job sharing; (10) terminating employees with substantial performance problems; (11) terminating recent hires within their introductory periods; and (12)  discontinuing the use of temporary and part-time employees and redistributing their work.  Some employers look to early retirement programs, while others ask for volunteers by offering enhanced severance benefits.  While less severe than involuntary layoffs, these measures still require sensitivity to the manner in which they are communicated and the effect on employee morale. Explaining the company’s financial position can enlist employee support rather than resentment.  Management should seek a team approach to problem solving and increasing productivity, without making unrealistic promises of job security.

C.            When Layoffs Are Unavoidable, Proper Planning May Reduce Risk Of             Employment Disputes

                        Once a determination is made that a reduction is necessary, the task generally falls to operations, human resources and legal counsel to devise a plan which minimizes the risks of litigation.   To be effective, a reduction in force requires advance planning. The following outline summarizes some of the steps that should be considered before any adverse employment actions are taken:

                        1.            Planning the RIF.

                                    a.            Document the financial conditions necessitating the RIF.

b. Identify the goals of the staff reduction, in terms of labor costs to be eliminated and/or the number of employees by which the organization is overstaffed.

c. Identify the job functions and/or skills that will be essential to successful operations after the RIF.

d. Eliminate and/or consolidate unnecessary jobs.

e. Set a timetable for carrying out the RIF. (Unless business conditions require a series of reductions, attempt to act quickly and decisively in an effort to minimize morale problems.)

f. Be careful of cases where an employee can show that he was laid off close to the time he would have qualified for a benefit (e.g., pension vesting rights, retirement eligibility).  Even if technically lawful, these cases can appear so inequitable that a judge might stretch the law.

g. Try not to use a layoff as a substitute for terminating an employee based upon poor performance.

h. Check state laws regarding:  payment of wages, insurance benefit continuation, severance benefits, letters of recommendation, personnel record access, and the like.  Many states have specific requirements applicable to involuntary terminations.

i. Investigate whether the layoff will trigger vesting in pension or benefit plans for employees laid off.  Also determine whether the layoff is a partial termination of a pension or benefit plan, requiring a reportable event under ERISA.

j. Check to be sure that the terminations do not constitute withdrawal from a multi-employer pension plan, which can result in substantial liability.

k. Avoid the use of form letters when denying benefits to benefit plan participants.

l. Deliver news of layoff decision very carefully to the employee affected.  Inappropriate or poorly communicated notification can result in claims of emotional distress.

m. Be prepared when notifying employees about a layoff; have answers ready for potential inquiries and avoid the appearance that the decision was poorly or hastily made.

n. Consider the timing of the layoffs under the federal plant closing law (“WARN”) or under applicable state laws (see below).

o. Determine what notices are required under ERISA (e.g., Summary Annual Reports, Summary Plan Descriptions) and ensure that the employees receive all notices required.

p. Assess limitations and/or liabilities created by collective bargaining agreements, employment contracts, and the like.

q. Establish eligibility for severance benefits very specifically, and be wary of giving extra credits for employees age 40 or older, since such treatment can violate state discrimination laws; and do not preclude retiring employees from severance pay eligibility.

r. Determine whether a de facto severance pay plan already exists for employees involuntarily terminated; such plans may require compliance with ERISA reporting requirements and may already bind the employer to provide the benefit to all affected employees.

s. Avoid discriminatory transfer policies.  Workers should have the same transfer opportunities regardless of age, or other protected categories.

t. Do not use age as a distinction in early retirement benefits provided as a result of a workforce reduction.  For example, do not offer different benefits to employees under age 60 than those age 60 or older.

u. Do not make layoff decisions solely on the basis of payroll dollars saved; this could be deemed age discrimination.

                        2.            Making key policy decisions – – how to select among employees.

                                    a.            By length of service/seniority;

                                    b.            By identifying and eliminating unnecessary job classifications;

c. By classes of employees, e.g., eliminating all temporary, part-time or contract workers initially, and

d. By strict use of pre-existing job appraisal data.

i. Initially select employees who have been disciplined for severe or persistent performance problems;

ii. Thereafter, select from remaining employees by evaluating and comparing their ability to perform the essential job duties that will remain after the RIF is completed.

3. Strive for an objective comparison of employees where job qualifications and skills are considered in making reductions.

a. Consider the use of a RIF Committee;

b. Prior to implementation, selection decisions should be evaluated to see whether individuals in protected classes are disproportionately affected by the proposed RIF;

c. If a disparate impact exists, and cannot be justified by business necessity, alternate selections should be made; and

d. In analyzing the comparative performance of employees, emphasis should be placed on comparing the job functions and skills that will remain to be performed after the RIF is completed.

i. Wherever possible, performance comparisons should be made on the basis of ratings given on prior performance appraisals;

ii. New performance appraisals should be conducted for any employee who has not been evaluated within a reasonable period of time preceding the RIF.

4. Prior to implementing a RIF, factors militating against the selection of certain employees should be considered.

a. Can employees be transferred into existing vacancies?

b. Is special high-level management review warranted for certain highly-paid or long-term employees?

c. Are older, minority or female employees disproportionately affected by the company’s initial selection procedures?

i. If so, can the selection of these individuals be justified by business necessity?

ii. If not, alternative selections of individuals outside such protected classifications should be considered.

5. Employers can attempt to limit their potential liability by obtaining general releases from employees affected by a RIF, in return for enhanced severance benefits or other valuable consideration.

a.                   However, under the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), many procedural requirements must be satisfied before an employee’s release or waiver of federal age discrimination claims will be considered enforceable.

b.                  Releases waiving claims or rights under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) must be knowingly and voluntarily executed.

i. The waiver must be written in easily understandable terms.

ii. The waiver must specifically refer to rights and claims existing under the ADEA.

iii. The waiver cannot extend to rights or claims that may arise after the date the release is executed.

iv. The consideration offered in return for the waiver must be unrelated and in addition to whatever the individual is entitled to upon termination under existing company policies. (e.g., If company policy provides for the payment of accrued but unused vacation days upon termination, such sums are not additional consideration capable of supporting a waiver of ADEA rights and claims.)

v. The individual must be advised in writing of his or her right to consult with legal counsel prior to executing the release.

c.                   If the individual considering the waiver has not filed any administrative charges of age discrimination with the EEOC, or a lawsuit alleging a violation of the ADEA, the following notice requirements must be observed:

i. The individual must be given at least 45 days to consider the release. (Note: In individual termination situations where no EEOC charge or ADEA lawsuit has been filed, the employee must be allowed to consider the release for 21 days, and afforded an additional 7 days after execution to revoke the agreement if desired.)

ii. The company must notify the individual, in easily understandable written terms, of any eligibility requirements for participating in the employment termination program and all time limits applicable to the program.

iii. The individual must also be informed, in easily understandable written terms, of the job titles and ages of all individuals who are eligible or being selected for the termination program, and the ages of all individuals in the same job classification or organizational unit who are ineligible or not being selected for the program.

d.                  If the individual has filed an age discrimination charge with the EEOC, or a lawsuit alleging a violation of the ADEA, the company must provide him or her with a “reasonable” period of time to consider the execution of a waiver of ADEA rights and claims.

e.                   An individual cannot waive his or her right to file a discrimination charge with the EEOC, or to participate in an EEOC investigation.

6. Wherever possible, outplacement services should be offered to assist displaced individuals in obtaining subsequent employment.

7. Employees affected by a staff reduction should be advised of the RIF in as professional and supportive a manner as possible.

a. If possible, two members of management should meet with affected employees individually;

b. The communicators should be brief, direct and firm as to the company’s decision;

c. The communicators should be able to briefly explain the basis for the decision, if asked;

d. The communicators should also explain:

i. Recall/rehire rights, if any;

ii. Severance benefits (if any), health insurance conversion rights and other monetary issues; and

iii. Outplacement or other transitional services being offered, if any.

e. The communicators should be prepared to cope with employee shock, surprise and inability to absorb the information being imparted.

8. After the implementation of a RIF, remaining employees must be enlisted as partners committed to future growth.

a. Often, RlFs are not isolated events. Business conditions may require a series of RlFs before budgetary or manpower goals are satisfied;

b. To the extent possible, consecutive RIFs should be scheduled in close proximity to each other;

c. Remaining employees should be provided with prompt and accurate information about the desired goals and anticipated timetables associated with the RlF(s), and

d. If possible, remaining employees can be provided with modest economic, or non-economic incentives for increased productivity.

9. Workforce reductions provide unique opportunities for reorganizing and streamlining operations.

a. To maximize the cost savings effected through staff reductions, existing workflows and/or operating procedures should be redesigned to improve efficiency and to eliminate the duplication of effort and expense.

i. Cross-training allows fewer individuals to perform a greater number of job functions;

ii. Reporting relationships can be restructured to avoid unnecessary layers of supervision or management.

b. Existing business practices should also be re-evaluated with an eye toward reducing hidden costs.

i. Travel and entertainment expenses and/or budgets can be scaled back;

ii. Recruitment efforts and expenses can be curtailed if not eliminated.  Wherever possible, post-RIF job vacancies which occur should be filled by transferring or promoting qualified individuals from within the company.

D.            Notice Requirements Under The Worker Adjustment And Retraining             Notification Act

                        The number of employees to be laid off also may trigger the implications of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”), 29 U.S.C. Sections 2101-2109, or possibly a state plant closing statute.  The following outline summarizes the general requirements of the WARN act:

                        1.            WARN applies to employers that have, nationwide:

                                    a.            100 or more employees (excluding part‑timers); or

                                    b.            100 or more employees (including part‑timers) whose total weekly                                                             work hours (excluding overtime) are at least 4,000 hours per week.

                        2.            WARN requires an employer to give 60 days written notice, as described                                         by the             Act and Department of Labor regulations, of a “plant closing” or                                             “mass layoff” to:

a. All affected employees (including supervisors), OR if the employees are represented by a labor organization, the international body of the union; AND

b. The State dislocated workers unit and the chief elected official of the local governmental unit where the affected facility is located.

                        3.            A “plant closing” is defined as:

a. A permanent or temporary shutdown of a single site of employment, or of one or more facilities or operating units within a single site of employment; IF

b. The shutdown results in an employment loss at the single site of employment during any 30‑day period (this period is extended by WARN and the Department of Labor Regulations to 90 days) for 50 or more employees (excluding any part‑timers and employees who have not suffered an employment loss);

c. An “employment loss” is defined as:

i. An employment termination, other than a discharge for cause, voluntary departure, or retirement;

ii. A layoff exceeding 6 months; OR

iii. A reduction in an individual’s working hours of more than 50% during each month of any 6‑month period.

4. A “mass layoff” is defined as a reduction in workforce which is not the result of a plant closing; AND

a. Which results in an employment loss at a single site of employment during any 30‑day period (this period is extended by WARN and the Department of Labor Regulations to 90 days), for at least 50 employees (excluding part‑timers and employees who have not suffered an employment loss), if they comprise at least one‑third of the workforce at the single site of employment; OR

b. Which results in an employment loss at a single site of employment during any 30‑day period (this period is extended by WARN and the Department of Labor Regulations to 90 days), for at least 500 employees (excluding part‑timers and employees who have not suffered an employment loss).

5. The Act provides limited exceptions which may permit employers to provide less than 60 days notice of a plant closing or mass layoff if the failure to provide the requisite 60 days notice is due to:

                        a.            Unforeseeable business circumstances;

                        b.            A faltering company (in plant closing situations only); OR

                        c.            A natural disaster.

            6.            State and local notice requirements

                                    The requirements of WARN supplement those contained in personnel    policies, employment contracts or any other statute. States that have      enacted statutes which may impact on plant closings or relocations         include: Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon,   South   Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin. In addition, some cities and municipalities have enacted plant closing ordinances.

I.            CONCLUSION

              Unfortunately, it appears that the business community’s recent wave of workforce reductions will continue through at least the second and third quarters of 2001.  However, a wide range of options exist for employers who wish to reduce labor costs without sacrificing operational efficiency.  If the option selected is a reduction in force, significant litigation costs can be avoided with proper advance planning and legal advice.

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