Isn’t this fairly common across the local, state, federal and maybe private retirements?....
I don't know about the government parts but it shouldn't be allowed because tax payers a footing the bill ultimatly and it's ripe for abuse.
In private companies sometimes it does happen at least at several places I've been. Most times it's because of the early retirement programs offered. Many times the companies need the people that had to be offered the early retirements (HR rules). Companies don't like to do it because it's bad for morale of those not offered the plan. IMO a company is very different than a government and as a tax payers we don't need to get hit twice for the same person.