After a reorganization that eliminated 7,500 positions in the U.S. Postal Service, only 31 employees have been laid off, according to a spokesman for the USPS this week.FederalTimes.com reported about 5,600 positions were either moved into vacant positions or employees left on their own terms.
It was also reported that 1,800 employees took advantage of $20,000 buyouts.
“You had a lot of people who moved from positions that were no longer needed into positions that were needed,” said Mark Saunders, USPS spokesman, explaining the reason for the small number of layoffs.
The Postal Service implemented the reorganization and expected a long-term savings of $700 million per year. The USPS launched cost-cutting measures which includes suspending employer contributions in the Federal Employees Retirement System.
