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2009-2010 Furlough Implementation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 04, 2009

MEMORANDUM

TO: All Morgan State University Employees

FROM: Earl S. Richardson, President

RE: Furlough Implementation

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, the Board of Regents authorized a temporary salary reduction/furlough plan for Morgan State University employees. The Morgan temporary salary reduction/furlough plan will meet the required targeted savings of $1.66 million.

Both regular and contractual faculty and staff will be required to take furlough days according to the following schedule and provisions as provided below:

  • Under $30,000 - 2 days
  • $30,000 to $39,999 - 3 days
  • $40,000 to $49,999 - 5 days
  • $50,000 to $59,999 - 6 days
  • $60,000 to $69,999 - 7 days
  • $70,000 to $79,999 - 8 days
  • $80,000 to $99,999 - 9 days
  • $100,000 or more - 10 days

Staff Provisions

  • The plan will allow the University to spread the reductions evenly over 16 pay periods, beginning with the pay date of November 11, 2009 and ending on pay date June 9, 2010 for regular employees. For contractual employees, reductions will be made in the pay period in which the furlough is taken.
  • The University has identified the following three (3) days that the University will be closed:
    - Friday, November 27, 2009*
    - Wednesday, December 23, 2009
    - Wednesday, December 30, 2009 **

*The holiday previously scheduled for November 27, 2009 will be taken on December 22, 2009. **The University Holiday previously scheduled for December 30, 2009 will be taken on December 21, 2009.

  • Those employees required to take only 2 days of furlough must use accumulated leave or leave without pay for Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Employees required to take more than 3 days must take those additional days between November 4, 2009 and June 1, 2010. No employee shall take or be asked to take more than one day (8 hours) or less than ½ day (4 hours) of furlough within the same calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). Time sheets should reflect when furlough hours are taken.
  • Employees will provide at least 3 days notice before taking a furlough day. No overtime or compensatory time should be worked in a pay week furlough is assigned or taken. In exceptional cases, if any overtime is worked during the furlough period, it shall be paid at the regular employee hourly rate.
  • Full-time contractual employees will also be furloughed based on the annual salary schedule. Deductions will be taken in the pay period in which the furlough is taken. There will be no spreading of these deductions.

Faculty Provisions

  • Full-time regular and contractual faculty will be furloughed based on the salary schedule.
  • Faculty will be furloughed on the following days depending upon salary:
    - 3 days: November 27, 2009, December 23, 2009 and December 30, 2009
    - 5 days: November 27, 2009, December 17, December 18, December 23 and December 30, 2009
    - 6 days to 10 days: March 22 to March 26, 2010, including the 5 days above
  • Salary deductions will also be spread out over 16 pay periods:
    - Regular faculty: pay dates November 11, 2009 through June 9, 2010
    - Contractual faculty: pay dates November 18, 2009 through June 16, 2010

General Provisions

  • The following categories of employees are excluded from the furlough/temporary salary reduction plan: graduate assistants, student employees, part-time contractual staff, part-time adjunct faculty, employees on an H1-B Visa, employees working 24/7 operations (police officers, police communication clerks, stationery engineers, etc.) and employees on approved Family Medical Leave. Employees excluded from the plan or employees required to take less than 3 days of furlough must use accrued leave or leave without pay on days the University is closed.
  • The furlough/temporary salary reduction plan will not affect benefits:
    • 2009 health benefits will not be affected, no change in health benefits deductions.
    • Retirement will not be affected since there will be no change in your reported annual salary.
    • Leave accrual rates will not change.
    • Supplemental retirement deductions (e.g. 401k, 403b, 457b, if applicable) will not be affected.

Additional information to include frequently asked questions will be posted on the University's web page. Employees with additional questions may contact the Office of Human Resources at 443-885-3195.

Thank you for your understanding and support, during these very difficult times of economic exigencies.