Financial incentive of $2,000 from TQL is given to employees planning to leave their jobs.

In a surprising move, Total Quality Logistics (TQL), one of the largest freight brokerages in the U.S., has offered its employees a financial incentive to resign. Ken Oaks, the CEO of TQL, sent a companywide email on Wednesday, offering a $2,000 payout to those who choose to leave.

The email, which has since been shared on social media, aims to keep workers who are fully committed while encouraging those less committed to seek opportunities elsewhere. This approach is not unprecedented for TQL, as the logistics provider Steam Logistics, a sister company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, also offered a similar cash-for-quits program in 2023.

Interestingly, it appears that this is not a new program for Steam Logistics, but one that has been periodically offered for several years. In fact, a similar offer resurfaced in 2019, and in 2015, under the leadership of Ken Oaks, a one-day, $2,000 resignation deal was made, with 53 employees choosing to accept. However, no specific details were given about the number of employees who accepted the offer at Steam Logistics in 2023.

TQL, based in Cincinnati, did not respond to a request for comment by the close of business on Thursday. There is no publicly available information confirming the existence or current status of a "Cash-for-Layoffs" program at Total Quality Logistics under the leadership of Ken Oaks.

Steam Logistics President Steve Cox explained that the cash-for-quits program is meant to help people move on if their heart is not in it for the long term at Steam. The goal is to create a more committed and productive workforce, ensuring the company continues to thrive in the ever-changing logistics industry.

While it's rare that anyone opts for the cash-for-quits program at Steam Logistics, it seems that changing market conditions may have influenced some employees' decisions this time around. As the logistics sector navigates through challenges, companies like TQL and Steam Logistics are adapting their strategies to maintain a dedicated and motivated workforce.

Financial incentive of $2,000 from TQL is given to employees planning to leave their jobs.