Summary
Clearly Sprint needs to reduce costs as they keep hemorrhaging market share. Voluntary work force reduction is not the way to go.
Analysis
I have seen many companies that needed to reduce work force try the painless humane approach of offering severance packages to those who leave voluntarily. The results are always the same: The good people who know they can get another job easily take the package and that leaves the less capable remaining.
Years ago I had a friend who worked at a DuPont division that offered such a packet. He was a crucial part of the engineering organization so that when he took the package he was rehired the next week as a consultant. So for two years he in fact tripled his salary.
As painful as it might be the only way to effectively reduce a work force and keep the people you need is with selective layoffs and firings. There is no way to escape this pain. Using voluntary severance always results in a less capable company. Many marginal employees know they are marginal and will not risk leaving a sure thing. The doers and shakers have confidence in their abilities and will take the offer and move on.
