Nokia Seeks Volunteers for Cutting Labor Costs

Nokia is initiating a voluntary employee resignation program aimed at reducing its workforce by 1,000 jobs and launching several other voluntary initiatives to streamline personnel costs.

The labor move announced Wednesday is a global effort that excludes managers and executive leaders and includes Nokia Siemens Network and its Navteq personnel. All told, Nokia has 128,445 employees. The voluntary program is available to workers from March 1 to May 31 and Nokia is supporting short-term. unpaid leaves and sabbaticals where business allows it to cut labor costs.

"We are encouraging people to take holiday as time off instead of taking cash compensation," a Nokia spokeswoman told InternetNews.com. For example, in Finland, many Nokia employees receive a holiday bonus that translates to a two-week pay cost. "We are encouraging those employees to instead take additional time-off instead of the extra payment," Nokia said.