City Wants to Incentivize Top-Paid Workers to Leave

The city of Novato wants to revive an incentive program aimed at encouraging employees who may be thinking about leaving to take the next step. The program would award $25,000 to any worker who voluntarily leaves and is part of the ongoing fiscal sustainability measures the city is looking at as a way to eliminate the $300,000 budget deficit.

The idea is to then rehire at a lower cost or restructure the vacant position by combining it with an existing one.

“The program could be used if someone wants to leave to start their own business or is concerned about paying their healthcare costs (when no longer employed),” said Dan Weekley, a human resources manager for the city.

The City Council is set to vote on the program at Tuesday’s council meeting. If approved, it would bring back the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program that was in place from April 2011 until this June.