In addition, about 1,500 state employees would be offered early retirement with a buyout.

The company also said it would offer voluntary retirement to 28,500 employees.

With the country in recession, increasing numbers of employees are being offered early retirement.

Sears said it would offer early retirement and other benefits to the affected workers.

The state offered early retirement again to many employees.

Most of those over 50 will be offered early retirement.

In December, the corporation offered early retirement, and 800 people took it.

Polaroid will offer retirement at age 55 to employees who are 45 or older.

Earlier this year, it froze hiring and offered employees early retirement.

One thorny problem still unresolved is how to offer early retirement to state workers.