Good for BT I say. They have always had a good HR approach to staff. As I read this due to the Global division LYING about their success - the rest of the company has to pull its horns in. One way of reducing costs without losing the staff skills and knowledge is to let them take an extended break and come back. No doubt the poor beggars staying will have to work even harder. For a lot of older people it might be a brilliant opportunity to look after an ailing relative or do some voluntary work. If you got the 1/4 payment upfront and didn't spend all the daft money on clothes, transport, second car, lunches, convenience foods,waste, parking tickets, speeding fines etc you would probably be little worse off. I would have jumped at it.
I also understand there is a £1000 payment for full time staff who go part time. Makes sense and keeps the skills/knowledge base.
Well done BT I say and I hope the share price improves as a result.
varche