yes, probably b/c the good ones know they can find employment elsewhere without too much difficulty.

Not that simple. Depends on the deal but taking retirement and redundancy are very different things.

This looks like a retirement package which means they can't take a new job, if I understand it correctly.

Having faced layoff in both Europe and US. The laws are a world apart.

Cant take a new job! I cant believe that it violates so many eu rules and the employees human rights.

Of course it might not make sense if you are near state retirement age.

Of course this is outwith things like medical retirement ie you have a terminal illness

Why would it violate anything?

When you retire, you are basically stating that you are unfit or unwilling to continue working, and as such the company you have worked for all this time should continue to pay your living expenses.

Getting a new job basically says that you can and want to continue working.

Well id need to see the schemes rules but certainly in the UK you can take a pension now and work - or you can defer it and take it later.

Typically you would defer and work at the new job 90% of the people who built out the uk's mobile network did this.

They took redundancy from the GPO /BT got a huge pay off (3 years salary tax free) and 6 extra years on the pension and then worked for the competition.

And a pension is deferred pay not some grace and favour hand out from a feudal lord. And for some DB schemas when you hit the max years it makes sense to take redundancy as you cant build up any more pension.

Pensions are deferred pay not a hand out.

Also, I can't do this is different from I can't do anything. Many people have part time or lower stress jobs in retirement as something to do. Working a 40+ hour week on a factory floor is much more demanding than teaching a welding class 2 days a week at the local community collage.