Staff can reduce pay, hours under revived START program

By Alison Hewitt

State budget pressures on the UC system led the UC regents May 14 to revive a program encouraging employees to volunteer to work fewer hours while still earning 100% of their vacation time, sick leave and retirement service credit.

If the Staff and Academic Reduction in Time (START) program receives final approval, as expected, from the UC president in June, UCLA employees could participate in the program starting July 1.

START seeks to minimize layoffs by saving money on salaries. During 2003-06, when the program was previously in place, START saved UCLA $6.4 million, said Lubbe Levin, associate vice chancellor for Campus Human Resources.

"That was quite substantial," Levin said. "The anecdotal feedback to us was that many departments were able to reduce the potential for layoffs."

Levin said she has since heard strong interest in the revival of the START program from departments and employees. Last time, people willing to cut their hours and income used the extra time to see more of their families, take classes or pursue new degrees, extend their vacations and, in at least one case, to write a book. Most of the 478 participants selected a 20% to 25% reduction.

UCLA staff and academics such as librarians or researchers are eligible to reduce their time, although faculty are not. To participate, employees must cut their hours by at least 10% to qualify, but continue to work at least half-time, Judy Boyette, the UC associate vice president of human resources and benefits, told the regents May 14.

"As an incentive to elect to reduce time and pay, START participants would accrue vacation, sick days and retirement plan service credit at their pre-START rate," Boyette explained. Participation would have to be approved by an employee's department head. For employees in bargaining units, their union would need to agree to START, Boyette added. Levin said the unions signed on to the program last time, and she was optimistic that they would again.

The regents' Committee on Compensation unanimously approved the retirement service credit component of the program, although Alumni Regent Philip Bugay reminded colleagues to be aware of the impact on the long-term funding viability of the UC Retirement Plan.

Employees who reduce their hours and pay for at least a month and for up to two years will earn most of their benefits at the pre-START rate, although pay reductions could also mean employees contribute less to their retirement savings plans.

Levin emphasized that START is a temporary measure to deal with current budgetary shortfalls. Short-term, she estimates it could save UCLA more than $2 million annually.

Full details about START are available at www.chr.ucla.edu.