Anyone who signs up to leave will be accepted. The company will move 'off the book' dates out to next year and at the same time begin to move departments and functions to outsourcing groups as well as combining functions and tasks.
The company wants people off the books but also, the company has to be cautious as if they refuse someones request to leave and then next May or June RIFs them, they face lawsuits.
Hans, I would imagine, wants to avoid lawsuits. He is here to get a job done with as little turmoil as possible. He was selected because he has no emotional ties or allegiance to the old RBOC companies or any existing management group.
I'm not the original poster, but I agree that all of this is going to play out this way, without opening a lot of space for lawsuits. Not to worry, whoever signs up to leave, it will be accepted. Posted by @VHgbUn6-2aem