Voluntary redundancy from the Australian Public Service – its impact on people and families in the ACT

Abstract

This paper examines issues related to voluntary redundancy by investigating the outcomes for Commonwealth public servants who have taken voluntary redundancy. It includes a survey of a small sample of public servants who took voluntary redundancy in 1996 as part of the downsizing of the Australian Public Service by the newly elected Coalition government (40 respondents in total). Contrary to some expectations, women public servants did not show a greater propensity to take voluntary redundancy than men. The more significant trend related to classification and seniority, with the proportion of voluntary redundancies being higher in the ASO 5 classification and above. A significant number of retrenchees had withdrawn from the workforce, either on a temporary of permanent basis. Of those continuing in the workforce, most (around four out of five) had found employment. The effect on people's personal and family lives had been generally positive, even though, in most cases, family income was reduced and less secure.