RIF and Restructuring Savings Planner

Before deciding on a workforce reduction, see what it would cost and how much it could save. Calculate severance, the full one-time cost, ongoing savings, and payback, with the assumptions behind each figure clearly shown.

The full financial picture in one workbook

Eight tabs in one Excel file. A Start Here page tells you the order to work in, six working tabs do the math, and a Notes tab holds the record of what you decided and why.

• Severance Calculator. Set the policy once using weeks per year of service, base weeks, a cap, and a minimum. Enter affected roles and each person's weekly pay. The workbook calculates individual severance weeks and amounts, then totals the results.
• Full Cost of the Reduction. See the full one-time cost, including employer payroll tax on severance, accrued PTO payouts, the employer share of continued benefits, and outplacement support.
• Savings and Payback. Calculate ongoing payroll savings, payback in months, and net savings for year one and over three years. The workbook shows the gross run rate and explains why retained savings are often lower.
• Notice and Timeline. Use screening prompts for the federal WARN trigger and calculate notice dates, with the relevant legal steps shown alongside the financial estimates.
• Benchmarks. Review typical severance by role level and general notice rules from public sources. See how your proposed policy compares before seeking approval.
• Summary. A board-ready view of one-time costs, ongoing savings, and payback, with every figure updating directly from the working tabs.

Build the estimate step by step

Follow four steps from setting a severance policy to calculating payback. Each figure carries through to the summary as you work.

• Check notice requirements first. Begin with the Notice and Timeline tab, before calculating costs, to screen for WARN requirements and work through the dates. Have counsel review the results before proceeding.
• Establish the severance policy. In the Severance Calculator, set weeks per year of service, base weeks, the cap, and the minimum before adding employees. The same policy then applies to each calculation.
• Enter pay from payroll records. Add each affected role using current weekly pay rather than estimates. Adjust individual calculations only where a written policy exception applies.
• Complete the one-time costs. In Full Cost, confirm accrued PTO balances, employer benefits contributions, and whether outplacement is offered. Enter zero for costs that do not apply.

Clear assumptions behind the numbers

The planner shows the assumptions behind each payback figure and identifies the source of every rate, so you can review how the estimate was calculated.

• Rates checked against primary sources. The employer payroll tax uses the 7.65% FICA rate per the IRS, and the default 30% benefits burden tracks federal compensation data, kept deliberately conservative.
• Gross savings clearly identified. The workbook shows the gross run rate and explains how backfill, overtime, and coverage costs can reduce the savings retained.
• A worked example in every tab. The file opens with a realistic ten-person reduction, so you can see the calculations before entering your own figures.
• Legal requirements alongside the numbers. The notice tab marks where WARN and OWBPA obligations apply, keeping those requirements visible as you review the financial plan.

Who it is built for

Built for

• An owner or operator who needs the real cost and the real savings before committing to a reduction.
• A lean HR team preparing clear cost and savings estimates for finance and the board.
• A consultant or fractional HR lead building the case for or against a restructuring.

If you are looking for

• The selection and the people side, not just the money. The RIF and Restructure Planning Kit covers scoring, the fairness check, WARN and OWBPA planning, and the conversation.
• A single person’s package, not a group. The Severance Planning Calculator handles one exit.

Before you buy

What format is it and can I edit it?

One Excel workbook, eight tabs. The download contains five files: the workbook, a Start Here, the one-page Quick Reference, the product license, and a short guide to using it in Google Sheets. The workbook works in Excel or Google Sheets, and you can edit every amber input cell.

How is this different from the RIF and Restructure Planning Kit?

The RIF and Restructure Planning Kit covers selection scoring, the four-fifths fairness check, WARN and OWBPA planning, and the manager conversation. This planner focuses on severance, the full one-time cost, savings, and payback. Many buyers use both, first to understand the financial impact and then to plan the reduction. See the RIF and Restructure Planning Kit.

Will it handle my severance policy?

Set weeks per year of service, base weeks added to everyone, a cap, and a minimum. The workbook calculates each person's severance using those settings. The file is fully editable, including individual lines where your policy allows an exception.

Is it a subscription?

No. One-time purchase, instant download, no recurring fee.

Can I check the rates it uses?

The rates it uses are shown next to the figures they drive, so you can check and replace any rate that has changed.

What is the refund policy?

Digital products are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. To request a refund, email support@truestephr.com or reply to your receipt within 30 days of purchase.

What happens after I buy?

Your download link appears immediately after checkout. Your receipt arrives by email with the same link. Open the Start Here tab first for the recommended order. For setup questions, email support@truestephr.com.

These are planning estimates, not legal or tax advice. The payroll-tax figure uses a stated FICA rate and the notice tab flags WARN and OWBPA, so confirm the current rates and the legal steps with qualified counsel before you act on a reduction.

How the download works

Your files arrive as a single ZIP download, best opened on a computer. Save it, extract it (right-click and select Extract All on Windows, or double-click on a Mac), then open the Start Here file first. PDFs open in any reader, and editable files work in Microsoft Excel or free equivalents, including LibreOffice and Google Sheets. No other software is needed. Step-by-step help for every device is at truestephr.com/pages/download-help.