Q&A: START & Furlough

How will employees on START be impacted by campus closures that are implemented as a result of the furlough program?  

Employees on START will need to take vacation or leave without pay during campus closures.  Employees in this circumstance can work with their supervisor to adjust their work schedule so that their reduction in time coincides with the campus closure.

Can employees "bank" their START time to be used during the campus closure dates?

START time cannot be banked; the employee will have the same reduction in time and pay in each pay period under the START contract.

Does the reduced percentage of time need to be the same during each month of my START contract or can it vary as long as the average percentage reduction over the entire period of my participation in START is the same as the percentage reduction reflected in my START contract?

You should have the same reduction in time and pay in each pay period of your START contract. However, with your department head's approval, your work schedule within a pay period may be flexible from week to week as long as the total time reduced during the pay period is the same as the percentage time reflected in your START contract.

 

What is the difference between START, Furloughs and Layoffs, in terms of the effects on categories of benefits eligibility? (printable hand-out)

Employee Benefit Category Furlough/START Program Impact Layoff Impact - Temporary or Indefinite
UCRP benefit calculations (based on HAPC and Final Salary) Unreduced. May reduce depending upon the duration of furlough - if full-time for 1 month or more can have an effect.
UCRP Service Credit. Not impacted.
 Reduced.
Vacation Leave Accrual
 Not impacted.
 Pro-rated.
Sick Leave Accrual
 Not impacted.
 Pro-rated.
Holiday

Not impacted (Furlough)

Pro-rated (START)

 Pro-rated.
H&W Benefits Eligibility
 Not impacted.
 May be impacted based on current appointment % and duration of reduction (if 21 days or more).
Medical Contribution Bands
 Unreduced. Unreduced.
Insurance premiums - Life, AD&D, Disability, Executive Life Unreduced. Unreduced.
Insurance contributions - Life, AD&D, Disability, Executive Life
  Unreduced Disability impacted if on layoff; no disability coverage.
Workers' Compensation Unreduced. Unreduced.
DCP Contributions (Mandatory Redirect) Reduced. Reduced as it is based on percent of actual earnings.
403(b), 457(b), and DCP After-Tax (Voluntary Contributions). Reduced if employee has percentage contribution.
 Reduced if employee has percentage contribution.
 HCRA/DepCare Not impacted.
 Not impacted.
 FICA Reduced. Reduced.
 Safe Harbor
 Reduced. Reduced.
 Unemployment Insurance
 Reduced. Reduced.

 (UCD 10/14/09

What are the differences between the START and Furlough Programs? (printable handout)

START   PROGRAM                                    

FURLOUGH PROGRAM                                                                                      
Voluntary action by employee, approved by supervisor.                                                                                    UC-mandated for non-represented staff.
Staff member requests % of reduction. UC-mandated % reduction based on tier structure.
Program is a time reduction plan.  Program is a pay reduction. 
Either party can end arrangement with 30-day notice. 12-month program mandated by UC (exclusions by regents).
Pay is reduced by % reduction and time on the contract. Pay reduction is monthly over a 12-month period of time.
Agreed to with unions for represented staff. Not agreed to with Unions for Represented Staff (except AFT for librarians).
No leave accrual bank. PTO Leave Accrual Bank. 
Work less each month. Paid same % reduction each month, but have furlough bank and flexibility with supervisory approval as to when to use furlough days. 
Keeps benefits at level of pre-START.  Keeps benefits at level of pre-furlough.
Modification would require OP and union approval. To provide this option for represented staff requires union approval.

 (UCD 10/9/09)

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