Ealier this year, the START Program was modified to lower the minimum allowable reduction in time from 10% to 5%. Departments and employees are encourage 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.
