Carolina Power & Light Co. v. Employment Security Commission

PARKER, Chief Justice.

The sole issue on this appeal is whether an employee who accepts a Voluntary Early Retirement Package (“VERP”), offered by the employer as part of a company-wide downsizing, is eligible for unemployment insurance benefits under Chapter 96 of the North Carolina General Statutes. We reverse the Court of Appeals and hold that the employee is ineligible for benefits.

Herman D. Roberts (claimant) was employed by Carolina Power & Light Company (“CP&L”) as a field service representative. In January 2005 CP&L offered voluntary early retirement to several employees, including…