Employees who are laid off who have 1 year or more of service with the Department of Transportation shall receive severance pay. The Secretary may also authorize the offering of severance pay to employees in designated work units affected by a reduction in force who resign instead of a layoff action. Severance pay for employees who are laid off, except for employees laid off due to lack of funds, is 1 week of pay for each year of service with the State, with a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of 26 weeks. Subject to §A of this regulation, employees laid off due to lack of funds shall receive 4 weeks severance pay, regardless of length of service. If an employee who is laid off, or resigns instead of layoff, returns to employment with the Department within 6 months in the same classification, the employee shall reimburse the Department, on a prorated basis, for any severance pay received.