Several large French companies are currently resorting to early retirement, sometimes numerous.

This device, a neglected time, seems to be back in fashion thanks to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Is the economic shock caused by the health crisis reviving early retirement departures?

Recent agreements, negotiated in a number of large companies, suggest this.

PSA, Renault, Bosch, Michelin, Aéroports de Paris, Airbus, Safran, all have used this device, which has until then fallen a bit into disuse.

And all the more so since it was not in line with government employment requirements.

But not only do these companies use it, they assume it. 

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Calm the departure of employees

In recent years, in fact, we have seen the departure of senior employees which took the form of individual transactions, discreetly negotiated, and the people concerned were supported not by companies but by unemployment insurance until their retirement. .

A practice denounced in passing by the Court of Auditors.

This time, the plans are made in due form and sometimes concern large populations.

At Safran, for example, the plan negotiated last summer provides for 3,000 departures.

For companies, this comes at a cost: employees must continue to be paid until retirement up to 70% to 80% of their former salary.

But this also presents an interest: that of being able to carry out workforce reductions in a peaceful manner since many employees at the end of their careers are applicants.

So when they can, big companies don't hesitate. 

A trend against the grain 

This new posture of companies, however, sends a signal in total contradiction with the discourse held for more than ten years by successive governments on the need to keep seniors in employment as long as possible. Parliament voted to end November the creation of a "CDI inclusion".

A new specific employment contract targets seniors over 57 years away from employment. 

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It is also a measure that does not go in the direction of the postponement of the retirement age provided for by the reform that the government wanted to carry out before the onset of the health crisis.