Hundreds of employees at Burlington Northern Santa Fe are considering an offer to leave the company.

Several BNSF vice presidents from Fort Worth were in Topeka Thursday to hold two town hall meetings with employees.

For a couple of weeks, employees say rumors of layoffs have been flying around the general office building.

On Thursday, they went to TPAC to meet with top officials from BNSF.

They were informed that BNSF is not laying off anyone, rather, the company is offering buyouts to 600 Topeka clerks working in various departments at the general office building.

The buyout is only being offered to protected clerks--those who have at least six years seniority, which BNSF says accounts for about 90-percent of clerks.

Employees are being offered $2,500 a month for three years with their benefits.

Or they can take an equivalent lump sum payment up front, but in doing so, they'd lose their benefits.

BNSF says fewer clerks are needed due to new technology and automated services.

The company hopes at least 100 clerks will accept the deal.

BNSF will accept applications until July 15 and it hopes to have a decision made by Sept. 30.

Employees say they doubt 100 workers will volunteer to leave, because they claim the payout isn't worth it.

Some employees fear layoffs could then be the answer, but BNSF says no matter what, layoffs will not result out of this deal.