University of Idaho President C. Scott Green has announced a proposed mandatory furlough plan for fiscal year 2021. The furlough plan is a response to the university’s current financial burden.
According to the email, every employee must take 24 hours of furlough. Employees that make over $40,352 must take an additional furlough based on a scale equivalent to 0.25% to 2.2% of their salary. Employees that make over $90,000 must take additional furlough equal to 1% of their salary.
The state has implemented a 2% holdback, or an amount of money that is withheld until certain conditions are met, and Gov. Brad Little has asked the university to prepare for another 5% holdback. An email sent to UI faculty and staff said the 2% holdback will be addressed in further budget cuts.
“This is something I wish we didn’t have to do, but we have no choice,” Green said.
Green said the university is considering mandatory furloughs to address the 5% holdback. The email stated the primary objectives of the furlough system are to spread the burden to save jobs and for employees with higher pay to take a larger portion of the burden.
The proposed furloughs will equate to a 1.15% to 5.8% total salary reduction and will be prorated based on salary. Green said this is expected to save $3.3 million in the general education budget.
Teaching assistants, research assistants, temporary employees, student employees and employees with an H1B visa are exempt from the mandatory furloughs.
“Exempt employees and faculty are limited to working no more than 40 hours, less the amount of furlough, for any week furlough is used,” Green said.
The furlough must be taken between June 28, 2020, and Jan. 23, 2021. UI Human Resources will provide a way to track furlough hours in VandalWeb. The furlough can be taken for as little as an hour at a time and chosen at a time that works for the employee. All furloughs must be pre-approved by the employee’s supervisor. No work can be done while furloughed and classes cannot be cancelled for furlough.
Lex Miller can be reached at [email protected]
*This story has been corrected to show the correct amount employees must make to qualify for the sliding scale.
*This story has been edited to clarify it is a furlough plan.