The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:21 AM
Oak Ridge National Laboratory To Cut 350 Positions By End Of Year
The letter stated, "To allow us to provide for our research missions and to allocate resources most productively, the Department of Energy has approved a Workforce Restructuring Plan proposed by UT-Battelle that will reduce ORNL's workforce by up to 350 positions by the end of the calendar year."
The letter goes on to say that staff cuts will be made primarily to staff who "charge to indirect accounts, along with some research staff affected by FY17 funding who could not be placed elsewhere in the lab."
ORNL said a Self-Select Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) would be opened on Monday, August 14, for employees to apply from August 14 until September 27. Though management has the right to deny any application, accepted employees will leave the payroll by December 31.
Zacharia's letter said the company is hopeful that the VSP will take care of all necessary staff reductions. If the program does not eliminate all positions required, an Involuntary Separation Plan (ISP) will be put into place.