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Modification to the Staff & Academic Reduction in Time (START) Program

DEANS, DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT CHAIRS & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Last year the University of California implemented a two-year Staff and Academic Reduction in Time (START) Program, effective July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2010, to enable non-probationary career staff and academic appointees (except those in faculty and student academic titles and Postdoctoral Scholars) an opportunity to voluntarily reduce their working time and corresponding pay. The reduction in time and pay are intended to help the University achieve temporary salary savings during the current budget crisis.

The START Program has now been modified with Regents’ approval to lower the minimum allowable reduction in time from 10% to 5%. This change is effective March 1, 2009, for employees who are paid monthly and March 8, 2009, for those paid on a bi-weekly basis.

We are encouraging departments and employees to participate in the program in support of the University’s efforts to respond to the State budget shortfall.

In departments that choose to participate in the START Program, an employee may request the department head’s approval to voluntarily reduce working time, from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 50% of full time, as long as the employee’s work schedule is not reduced below 50 percent time in any given month of participation. In exchange, the employee will be able to accrue vacation, sick leave, and UCRP service credit at his or her pre-START rate.

Currently, AFSCME, CUE and UPTE have agreed to participate in the START Program at 5%. The Office of the President is working on obtaining express agreement from each of the bargaining units for participation in the revised program and we will keep you updated on any additional details. Please contact our Employee and Labor Relations Office for further information.

Copies of the program guidelines, program brochure describing the features of START, including Q&As, and START contract forms are available in Related Information under "At Your Service."

The University has provided a considerable amount of flexibility in the design of the START Program, providing departments a wide range of latitude to implement START effectively within the context of their missions, operational needs, service requirements, and budgets. In approving START requests, it is important that you evaluate departmental priorities and adjust workloads to ensure that functional objectives continue to be met.

Questions applicable to staff should be directed to Manager Lazetta Smith at lazetta@chr.ucla.edu and regarding academic personnel to Manager Marsha Fractor at mfractor@conet.ucla.edu.

Sincerely,

Lubbe Levin                                                             Thomas Rice
Associate Vice Chancellor                                   Vice Chancellor
Campus Human Resources                                  Academic Personnel

 

 

Campus Human Resources, Personnel Services
Phone: (310) 794-3147 | Fax: (310) 794-0865