Bonuses to Quit

For years companies have been buying the loyalty of their work forces by offering bonuses for superior workmanship or exceeding production quotas. Last week Volkswagenwerk AG turned the bonus idea completely around by offering to pay employees at four of its six West German plants up to $3,600 for their immediate resignations. The company has been hit by a serious sales slump, and is trying to trim its workforce in the nicest way possible. Of the 106,000 eligible employees, only the first 2,700 to apply will be able to collect the payments, which include one month's salary, full vacation pay for this year and a lump sum based on the individual's wages and years of service.

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