Overwhelming response by Chrysler LLC salaried workers taking buyout packages may be enough to avoid further layoffs.

"We're fairly certain we've achieved our target and won't have to do any involuntary layoffs for the end of the year," spokeswoman Lori McTavish said Friday.

Thousands of white-collar workers chose to take packages and walked out the door for the last time Wednesday night. And while most will drop off the payroll as of Nov. 30, the high take rate has forced some departments to offer a temporary extension to select full-time and contract employees to get through the transitional month of December. A new restructured personnel plan is to go into effect in the new year.

Extension decisions were made at the department level as each assessed its resources after the mass exodus.

On Oct. 24, Chrysler announced it would cut about 5,000 of its 17,300 white-collar workers worldwide, including those working on contract, by Jan. 1.

All employees regardless of how many years they had with Chrysler, were eligible for a combination of money, car vouchers and some health care.

McTavish also clarified that there was no company-wide edict to get rid of contract workers before Thanksgiving.

Because contract workers usually are paid by a third party, she said Chrysler would not be behind phone calls some workers received Wednesday night saying their services are no longer needed. There were still contract workers employed as of Friday night.