{
  "id": 9123684,
  "title": "Longtime SUSE staff asked if they'd opt for 'voluntary separation'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/longtime-suse-staff-asked-if-theyd-opt-for-voluntary-separation-9123684",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/software/2026/09/22/longtime-suse-staff-asked-if-theyd-opt-for-voluntary-separation/5297457"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SUSE has proposed a voluntary separation program for its veteran employees, as the company undergoes a transformation in its business structure. The initiative was revealed during an online company meeting held in Singapore, where executives humorously referred to themselves as being past their sell-by dates. SUSE's People, Strategy and Transformation Executive, Lisa Sherwell, personally reached out to eligible employees regarding the offer. The company has emphasized that participation in the program is entirely voluntary for both employees and the organization, with no predefined targets. SUSE maintains a strong focus on retaining its key workforce, with staff retention rates of 6 percent in core operational areas and an overall rate of 12 percent globally. This move comes after another staffing development at SUSE's Czech operation, where employees in Prague formed the SUSE Workers Union, a part of the Czech ICT Union. The ICT Union represents workers in the IT and call-center industries, which are vital to the Czech economy. While there is no direct evidence connecting the two staffing developments, multiple sources suggest that SUSE has approached long-serving employees, especially those with more than ten years of service, about the voluntary separation option. The company's decision to explore this program reflects its ongoing efforts to align its business structure with long-term strategic priorities.",
  "summary": "Other changes also afoot as employees unionize and the distro itself sees modifications",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register",
        "title": "Longtime SUSE staff asked if they'd opt for 'voluntary separation'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/longtime-suse-staff-asked-if-theyd-opt-for-voluntary-separation",
        "published": "2026-09-22T10:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}