Subject: Re: question for Jim
I voluntarily retired in a layoff (had to wait about 6 months for the layoff to happen) and got 1 year salary severance pay.
The next layoff they got 6 months salary severance pay.
The layoff after that, they got a hearty handshake.
The layoff before mine, they got 2 years.

Reminds me of a friend of mine, who was I believe the very last employee of Nortel, for years after they folded. He was technically on the payroll of some 50/50 joint venture that outlasted the parent, but I think the reason he stuck around so long was partly because of the decreasing buyout values after the first few years, and I suspect partly perhaps just to see how long he could last there : )

Jim