DAVE & DUJANOVIC

‘Fork in the road’: Federal employees offered pay if they quit

Jan 30, 2025, 12:00 PM

Federal employees get "Fork in the road" email...

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Miami to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

SALT LAKE CITY — Millions of federal employees got an email with the subject line, “Fork in the road.” In the email President Donald Trump extended an offer to federal employees to take eight months’ pay in exchange for leaving their jobs.

Employees are expected to decide on whether or not to terminate their jobs by Feb. 6. Legal analyst Greg Skordas joined Dave and Dujanovic to discuss what considerations federal employees should make before deciding.

“I would say this to any employee who’s considering this is to contact your local personnel office, your human resources for your particular department, and just get the details,” Skordas said.

Concerns over fork in the road decision

One concern for some is that the email might be a sign that their jobs may not be there in eight months, whether or not they take the deal.

“It’s a it’s a pretty good resolution for some people who may be very close to retirement if that’s what they want to do. But for others who don’t want to, I don’t think that they can just fire you for not signing this,” Skordas said.

Skordas also said that since the employer — the federal government, in this case — made the offer, it would have to live with the terms, and it’s squarely on the employee to accept or reject them. It’s unlikely that there will be room for negotiation, Skordas said.

But what if an employee responds to the email and then changes their mind?

Skordas said typically there’s a “rescission period” when it comes to employment contracts, meaning the employee can cancel or change their mind for a few days afterward. However, the details of this offer are not entirely clear.

“Typically when people are offered packages with respect to their employment, there’s there’s a rescission period. I think it’s either five days or seven days, and you would expect the federal government could honor that,” Skordas said.

“But I would certainly be very, very careful before I hit send, and make sure you’ve dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s, and talk to your local human resources, maybe your attorney before you hit that button.”

With respect to how employees would be paid after taking the deal, Skordas said he expects that employee’s would continue to see their current salary come in over eight months — not all at once. It would be like getting paid on a normal schedule, without having to work.

“You’re effectively resigning in eight months, understanding that you’re going to get paid during that entire time,” Skordas said.

A caveat to the “fork in the road” deal, Skordas said, is that employees who take it would not be allowed to get unemployment pay, since people who resign from their jobs are disqualified from doing so.

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‘Fork in the road’: Federal employees offered pay if they quit