UW System leaders say furloughs will be difficult
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin System leaders are describing just how difficult it will be to furlough employees for up to eight days for each of the next two years.
UW System President Kevin Reilly said Thursday that tracking employees' furlough days will be a big challenge and the system's aging human resources computer program might not be up to it. He says it's one of the administrative issues that keeps him up at night.
UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin says requiring researchers who are paid through federal grants to take furloughs will put them at a competitive disadvantage to peers on other campuses. She says it also won't help the state balance its budget.
The comments came during a discussion with the UW System Board of Regents.
Jun 4, 2009 at 9:27 p.m.
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Do these people get paid vacation days? Any floating holidays? How are those accounted for? I find it hard to beleive, with a university full of smart IT students and Professors, that the bookeeping part would even be a challenge.
Also, if a researcher is paid ONLY by federal grants, just don't furlough them.
Jun 4, 2009 at 7:24 p.m.
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We're not the only state that is cutting back. If they can't handle a furlough, more power to them finding the same position in a different state. I still see bad teachers in our school systems and I wish they would threaten to leave.
Jun 4, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
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The UW system is already losing good people in droves (or scaring away potential high-quality hires). These are highly-educated, professional people and we need to keep them in our state system.
Jun 4, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.
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But for the researchers and other employees who are paid EXCLUSIVELY with federal or private grants, there is absolutely no savings for the state budget whatsoever. You don't generate a savings by furloughing people whose compensation doesn't come from the state. And the governor is so stubborn about this that he can't -- or won't see -- the reality.
Jun 4, 2009 at 1:28 p.m.
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Reilly brings up a good point, somebody or some system will have to have to track all these furloughs. How much is that going to cost?
Jun 4, 2009 at 1:23 p.m.
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These are just temporary furloughs, not layoffs. I think the goal is to save enough money that layoffs can be kept to a minimum.
Jun 4, 2009 at 1:08 p.m.
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We've already lost a lot of terrific researchers and teachers. Get ready to lose more. A penny-wise and a pound-foolish, as my grandma used to say.
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