The university has set up a new Web site to give employees additional information about furlough days. A selection of those frequently asked questions is printed below. The entire list of FAQs is available online at www.uga.edu/furlough.
Q.: How will my paycheck be impacted by the furlough?
A.: Your gross pay for the pay period in which you take furlough will be reduced by the amount equal to one day’s rate of pay.
This can be calculated by taking your annual salary rate and dividing by 261 days (the number of work days in fiscal year 2010).
For faculty paid on an academic calendar, divide your nine-month annual salary rate by 195.75 days (75 percent of 261 days). If you have specific questions, please contact the payroll representative in your department.
Q.: How do I record my furlough days?
A.: Employees who complete time sheets will not record hours worked or leave hours for the furlough day. They will treat the furlough day as leave without pay.
Some employees who do not normally complete time sheets will need to record time worked during the furlough week. Payroll representatives in each department will receive instructions on furlough record keeping requirements.
Q.: What do I need to know to manage the furlough for my department?
A.: When planning for these institutional furlough days, individual department heads/directors will need to consider two principle issues:
a) essential university operations and b) personnel not subject to furlough.
Q.: If I have applied for an H-1B visa but have not yet been approved, am I excluded from the furlough?
A.: Individuals who have applied for an H-1B visa but have not yet been approved are included in the furlough requirements. Only holders of active, current H-1B visas are excluded from the furlough.
Q.: If I was hired after Oct. 1, 2009, will I be required to take furlough days?
A.: Yes. Employees are subject to all furlough days that occur after their hire date. For example, if you are hired on Oct. 12, you are subject to the Oct. 30 furlough day and each of the remaining furlough days in November, December, January, March and April. If you are hired on Jan. 7, 2010, you are not subject to the Jan. 4 furlough day, but you are subject to the furlough days in March and April.
Q.: I am currently using paid leave. How will the furlough plan impact me?
A.: An employee on paid leave such as sick, annual or Family Medical Leave Act will still be responsible for taking furlough days. Employees subject to furlough may not be on paid leave on a furlough day.
Q.: Can the loss of pay for the furlough days be spread out between now and June 30, or will my pay be reduced during the pay period in which I am required to be furloughed?
A.: Due to legal requirements and certain retirement plan regulations, pay reductions must be reflected in the pay period in which your furlough day occurs.
Q.: Will furlough days impact my W-2 earnings?
A.: Yes, furlough days will reduce your pay, and this reduction will be reflected on your 2009 and 2010 W-2 forms.
Q.: There are pay dates scheduled for the designated furlough dates of Oct. 30, Nov. 25 and April 30. Will these pay dates be changed?
A.: Since Oct. 30, Nov. 25 and April 30 are all furlough days, pay dates will be changed to Oct. 29, Nov. 24 and April 29. Additional information will be sent to payroll representatives and the campus community.
Q.: How will the furlough be handled for employees who have more than one UGA job?
A.: The furlough will be pro-rated to each job based on the percent of effort in each position.
Q.: May employees substitute annual leave, sick leave, or compensatory time towards the furlough?
A.: No. Employees subject to furlough will not be paid for the furlough time and may not be compensated by using paid leave.
Q.: May I donate part of my pay to support other employees in need?
A.: In accordance with USG mandatory furlough guidelines, employees may not donate part of their pay or take additional furlough days to help other employees. Each employee will be required to take the furlough time identified.
