By now just about everyone eligible for McGill's Voluntary Workforce Reduction Plan has received a letter detailing what the early retirement offer could mean for them. Phyllis Heaphy addressed a well attended Management Forum session Monday to answer questions from staff about the offer, which is targeted at most McGill employees over the age of 55. Heaphy emphasized that self-financing units will have the final say over their employees' eligibility for the plan, because those units would be responsible for funding their staff's departures. Anyone who does opt for the plan will have to take any vacation time owed to her before she leaves the University, said Heaphy. Staff who accept the plan must exit McGill by July 31.
Department heads can make a case if there is absolutely no way they can replace a position.
There isn't much a department can do to keep someone who wants to accept this plan. Heaphy said the administration would frown on departments who rehired staff after they left with an early retirement package. If a professor comes back to teach a specific course for a certain period of time, that's all right. Heaphy added that staff with early retirement packages could also face stiff tax penalties if they came back to McGill to do more work. In response to questions, Heaphy said that staff on short term disability or whose positions are about to be abolished are eligible for the plan.