START program ends Dec. 31

A program that allowed faculty, academics, and staff to voluntarily reduce work hours in exchange for a corresponding pay reduction is scheduled to end. The Staff and Academic Reduction in Time program, or START, was enacted as a temporary measure to help the University of California cope with budget shortfalls will end on Dec. 31, 2010.

John Fox, UCOP director of Human Resource Policies, stated, "Although many employees have appreciated the program and it has helped UC save on salaries, this is the right time for it to end."

In 2009 alone, UC achieved salary savings of roughly $16 million through employee participation in START.

Although many employees have appreciated the program and it has helped UC save on salaries, UC administration will not recommend an extension to the START program.

For more information, contact Robert Martinez at (530) 725-3467, ramartinez@ucdavis.edu, or Karen Ellsworth at (530) 752- 7917, kaellsworth@ucdavis.edu, in the ANR Staff Personnel Unit.

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