FAQ for Furloughs
What is a mandatory furlough?
A furlough is the placing of an employee in a temporary non-work, non-pay status for budget-related reasons.
Why is Georgia State University implementing a furlough?
This is a temporary cost saving measure designed to respond to budget reductions due to the current projected shortfall in State revenues.
When does the furlough begin?
The furloughs can commence on September 1, 2009.
How many days do I have to take off as furlough days?
All affected employees will be required to take a total of 8 furlough days before June 30, 2010. The University will schedule 5 of the 8 designated furlough days that will be taken by all employees. The 5 University designated furlough days are September 7, 2009, November 25, 2009 (Wednesday before Thanksgiving), December 21, 2009 (1st day of mandatory week-long shut down prior to Winter Break holidays), January 4, 2010 (Monday immediately after Winter Break) and March 8, 2010 (1st day of Spring Break). Employees will take 3 “floating” furlough days that they will schedule on a pre-determined basis after consultation with their immediate supervisor. The above complies with Governor Perdue’s directive that 3 furlough days occur prior to December 31, 2009.
Academic year employees must take mandatory furlough days prior to the end of the academic year.
While the BOR has mandated that furlough days must be taken by June 30, 2010, the University strongly encourages employees to take the 3 floating furlough days prior to March 31, 2010, in the event that additional furlough days are needed based on future budget restrictions.
Who will participate in the mandatory furlough?
All University exempt and non-exempt employees earning over $23,660 per year are subject to furloughs except those employees excluded from furloughs by the President due to extraordinary circumstances.
Any full-time employee who after any day of furlough falls at or below an annual salary of $23,660 shall be exempted from any further furlough days. Supervisors will work with affected employees.
Which other employees has the President excluded from the furloughs?
For security reasons and compliance with federal laws, police department employees, H-1B Visa holders, 100% sponsored personnel, graduate research assistants and graduate teaching assistants.
How will I schedule my furlough days?
You will work with your supervisor to schedule the 3 floating furlough days which will then be incorporated into your pay schedule. It will be the employee’s responsibility to ensure that the furlough days are taken in accordance with the pre-approved schedule. Please be aware that the Board of Regents (BOR) is requiring that furlough days cannot result in the cancellation of classes.
Do I have to take furlough days in whole day increments?
You may take your furlough days in full-day or half-day increments as agreed upon with your supervisor.
Can I take four furlough days during the extra week that the campus is closing during the winter break?
The first day (December 21, 2009) of the mandatory week-long shut down prior to the Winter Break holidays will be a required furlough day. You may take the additional days as furlough days, however; you should carefully consider this option since your paycheck will be decreased by the full furlough days if you take them all during this one time period. You may want to consider combining your vacation days with a furlough day for that week that the University will be closed. You may also use your floating holiday from Sept. 7 as one of those days.
Can the loss of pay for the eight furlough days be spread out between now and June 30, 2010 or will my pay be reduced during the pay period in which I take the furlough day(s)?
The loss of pay will occur during the pay period in which you take the furlough day.
How do I calculate my daily pay rate based on my annual salary?
For fiscal year employees, divide your annual salary by 260. For academic year employees, divide your academic year salary by 195.
Can I work on a designated furlough day?
No, employees may not work or otherwise provide services to the University during a furlough day. However, exempt employees may travel on a furlough day.
Can I apply paid annual leave, paid sick leave or compensatory time toward the furloughs?
No.
Can I donate furlough days to other employees?
No.
How will my benefits be affected?
The BOR Policy states furlough leave without pay will not affect health care benefits. Also, employees will continue to accumulate annual and sick leave at their normal rate. Finally, an employee’s review date, continuous service, hire date and leave accrual date will not be affected by any period of approved furlough.
How will my retirement benefits be affected?
The BOR Policy states:
- For employees covered by the Employees Retirement System of Georgia, furlough leave without pay will not affect the employer or employee contributions.
- For employees covered by the Optional Retirement Plan, furlough leave without pay will not affect the employer or employee contributions. However, ORP employees may reduce the employee contribution to coincide with the amount of actual earnings that reflect the furlough leave without pay.
- For employees covered by the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, furlough leave without pay will not affect the employer or employee contributions.
If I’m on paid sabbatical/professional leave, am I subject to the furlough?
Yes.
Is there a possibility that additional furlough days will be added prior to the end of FY 2010?
Any additional furlough days, up to a maximum of 10 days, for faculty and staff will be dependent on the budget situation.
Eight is a larger number of furlough days than the Regents mandated. Why do GSU employees have to take two additional furlough days?
The University decided to take additional furlough days to help meet its targeted budget reduction in order to minimize the impact of services to students and to minimize the number of reductions in force.
Can an employee grieve or appeal the furlough day?
No, per the BOR Furlough Policy.
I am a part-time employee. How will the University calculate the number of furlough days I am responsible for:
Your total salary is converted to a full-time equivalent salary to determine the gross number of furlough days; the salary is then pro-rated against your FTE to determine the actual number of furlough days required.
For example, a 50%-time employee who earns a total salary of $50,000 would have their salary converted to a full-time status (total salary/total FTE= Full-time equivalent salary) or ($50,000/.50=$100,000). On that basis the employee would be eligible for eight furlough days. However, this employee is 50% time, so the final step in the calculation is to pro-rate the gross furlough days against the employee’s actual FTE (gross furlough days x total FTE = actual furlough days) or (8 x .50 =4 days).
I was hired after September 1, 2009. Am I required to take furlough days? If so, how many?
Yes, the number of furlough days will be pro-rated.
If I qualify for furlough days and I have not taken all of the required furlough days and will be terminating employment or retiring prior to June 30, 2010, what happens?
Your final pay period for the fiscal year will subtract whatever furlough days you have not yet taken.
I am currently using paid leave. How will the furlough plan impact me?
If you are on paid leave such as sick leave or paid FMLA, you are responsible for taking your unpaid furlough days by June 30, 2010.
What if I am using unpaid leave such as a LWOP?
If the unpaid leave is scheduled to end prior June 30, 2010, you will be responsible for taking furlough days upon your return to paid status.
What will happen if I fail to make a request by September 15, 2009 to take my required number of furlough days?
If you do not make arrangements with your supervisor by September 15, 2009 for furlough days you will be assigned your designated number of furlough days at the rate of one per pay period.
What impact will this have if I currently have garnishments being taken out of my check?
Garnishments that are based off percentages will be reduced as the wages will be reduced.
What impact will this have if I currently have child support being taken out of my check?
These amounts will not be reduced as this is a monthly court order with a set dollar amount that we are obligated to take.
Can a faculty member use their sponsored funds to pay a staff member to work on a furlough day?
No.
Can a faculty member add to the staff member's salary over the year with sponsored money to make up for their loss of salary?
No.
As an H1-B visa holder, I’m excluded from furloughs. On the furlough days that the University is closed, what am I supposed to do?
You may take vacation time or work with your supervisor to determine alternate work assignments. Please work with your supervisor and Human Resources if you have questions.
For part time employees taking furlough days (.5 FTE), are they taking four 8 hour days, or four 4 hour days?
The furlough days are based on the FTE and not the actual hours in a day. So in this case the employee will take eight-four hour days.
We will continue to update this F.A.Q. as more information becomes available.