Furlough FAQ

The following is a list of frequently asked questions pertaining to UMBC's furlough plan. For additional information you can visit: www.umbc.edu/facultystaff/furlough.html. If you have additional questions, please contact the Department of Human Resources.

1. What is a furlough?
A furlough is an involuntary leave of absence without pay for a temporary period of time.

2. Why are we being furloughed?
UMBC's budget has been cut nearly $9 million in State general funds. After implementing a hiring freeze, making operating budget reductions and increasing tuition, the campus still has a budget gap in excess of $2 million. This plan will result in spending reductions of approximately $700K.

3. Which employees on campus are being furloughed?
All regular faculty and staff and Contingent II employees that are at least half-time (50% or more) will be furloughed based on the unrestricted portion of their salary.
Example 1:
Employee is paid 75% from grant-restricted funds and 25% from unrestricted funds and has a total salary below $85,400.
" Day 1: 25% Furlough = 8 hours x .25 = 2 hours furloughed and 6 hours worked or accrued leave
" Day 2: 25% Furlough = 8 hours x .25 hours furloughed and 6 hours worked or accrued leave
" Day 3: 25% Paid Administrative Leave = 8 hours x.25 = 2 hours paid administrative leave and 6 hours worked or accrued leave
Example 2:
Employee is paid 30 % from grant-restricted funds and 70% from unrestricted funds and has a total salary above $85,400.
" Day 1: 70% Furlough = 8 x .70 = 5.6 hours furloughed and 2.4 hours worked or accrued leave
" Day 2: 70% Furlough = 8 x .70 = 5.6 hours furloughed and 2.4 hours worked or accrued leave
" Day 3: 70% Furlough = 8 x .70 = 5.6 hours furloughed and 2.4 hours worked or accrued leave

4. Which employees are eligible for Administrative leave?
" Employees receiving no furlough time will receive no Administrative Leave time.
" Employees with a total salary at or above $85,400 will receive no Administrative Leave time-even if furlough time is prorated due to partial funding or partial employment (see example 2 in question 3).
" Employees with a total salary below $85,400 who are being furloughed will receive Administrative Leave, as calculated below:

" Employees receiving two full days of furlough time (16 hours) will receive 8 hours of Administrative Leave time.
" Employees receiving less than two full days of furlough time (under 16 hours) will receive Administrative Leave equaling exactly half of their furlough time.
Example: an employee assessed 12.6 hours of furlough time will be given 6.3 hours of Administrative Leave.

5. What are unrestricted funds?
Fund sources that are state-supported, auxiliary, DRIF or revolving accounts. If your account number in the Financial Accounting System (FAS) begins with 05-1, 05-3 or 05-9 your pay is from unrestricted funds.

6. What are restricted funds?
All sponsored contracts, grants and financial aid activity. If your account number in FAS begins with 05-4 or 05-5, your pay is from restricted funds.

7. How do I know if I am paid from restricted funds or unrestricted funds?
To find out your budgetary account number, you should check with the Payroll Preparer in your department.

8. If I am paid by unrestricted funds and restricted funds can I transfer my unrestricted payroll changes to the restricted funds account?
No. The furlough is based on the current funding sources for your position.

9. If I am furloughed on a pro-rated basis or not at all and want to take the full week off anyway, what should I do?
The campus will be open during Spring Break. You should contact your supervisor to request accrued leave.

10. What if I'm employed partially by UMBC and partially by another USM campus?
Your furlough will only be based on your percentage of UMBC employment. You may contact your Payroll Preparer if you have questions.

11. If I am required to take furlough days, but because of the nature of my job I am required to work during those days (March 26-28) how will I be compensated for my time worked, and when do I take my furlough?
If you are required to work on a furlough day you must take the furlough days off before April 18, 2003. Supervisors will be responsible for scheduling the required furlough time prior to the established deadline. Compensation will remain the same. Deductions will still be taken during payroll periods 21, 22, 24, and 25.

12. If I have been granted an Administrative Leave day (Friday, March 28th) and I am required to work on that day when will I be able to take that day off?
You must take your unused administrative leave by June 30, 2003 with prior approval from your immediate supervisor.

13. Will I receive any extra pay if I'm asked to work during a scheduled furlough day during spring break week?
No, the campus is not closed from March 26-28; therefore those who work will not receive extra pay for being on duty during those days.

14. The UMBC Furlough Plan says my employee benefits will not be reduced because of furlough. What does this mean?
" Health benefits will not be affected since there will be no change in your health benefits deductions.
" Retirement will not be affected since there is no change in your reported annual salary.
" Leave accrual rates will not be reduced.
" Supplemental retirement deductions (e.g., 401k, 403b, 457b, if applicable) will not be affected.

15. Why are the furlough deductions being taken from payroll periods 21, 22, 24, and 25, but not payroll period 23?
The deductions were taken out of four pay periods to ease the economic hardship on employees. Payroll period 23 (pay date May 23rd) is when employees on 9 1/2 month pay schedules receive multiple benefit deductions to cover the summer months (the equivalent of 6 biweekly benefit deductions all in one pay).

16. Will the payroll adjustments be automatically deducted?
No. The person currently responsible for preparing the payroll will be required to make the appropriate adjustments.

17. Who will be responsible for informing employees of the number of days (hours) that are required to be taken during the furlough period?
Supervisors will be responsible for communicating and monitoring the process.

18. Will my furlough deductions occur over four (4) payroll periods regardless of the amount of my furlough?
Yes, the total furlough deduction will be spread over pay periods 21, 22, 24, and 25 for all employees who are being furloughed. Employees may not elect a different deduction schedule.

19. Will there be any other change to the normal reduction to my paychecks in these four pay periods other than the furlough amounts?
Taxes will also be reduced for the four (4) furlough paychecks because gross salary for those particular pays will be reduced and nothing else will be affected.

20. What if I just began employment with UMBC prior to Spring Break week, or just after Spring Break week? Will I still be furloughed this fiscal year?
Any employee on payroll before March 28, 2003 who is not on restricted funds and meets the other criteria will be furloughed.

21. What if I am employed at UMBC during Spring Break week and take furlough days, but leave employment prior to the furlough deductions being taken from my paychecks?
Those employees, who leave employment prior to the furlough deduction being taken, will have their final pay reduced by the applicable furlough amount.

22. How will my furlough time be affected if I'm employed part-time?
Those employed below 50% will not be furloughed. Those employed 50-99% will have their furlough time pro-rated in proportion with their percentage of employment.

23. Why will my annual salary be unchanged for retirement purposes if my pay is being reduced?
The annual salary reported to the State Retirement Agency (SRA) each pay period is different from the actual pay given to the employee. In the case of our furloughs, the established annual salary for each employee will be reported to SRA as normal despite the reduction in four individual paychecks. Retirement contributions will also continue to be based on the reported annual salary and will not change.

24. How will I complete my time sheet indicating the furlough days?
Under leave time taken for the two furlough days (or three furlough days), you will place an 8 (or the number of hours you normally work) in box F on the time sheet. In box G for the required code you will indicate "FUR" for furlough. In addition, in the comments section you will indicate two or three furlough days as appropriate. For those employees receiving an administrative leave day on Friday March 28, indicate 8 hours of leave time taken in Box F and put 19 for administrative leave paid in Box G.

25. How will I complete my time sheets during the four pay periods when deductions are taken out of my paycheck?
A. Nonexempt employees will complete their time sheets in the same manner as they normally complete them since the leave has already been recorded on your time sheet. They will record their time-in and time-out for the number of hours that they work. Nonexempt employees should not be working overtime to make up for hours lost due to furlough days.

B. Exempt employees will continue to record a D in the Duty Days box. In addition, they will indicate total hours work for each day worked under Box A. During the four pay periods when deductions are taken, exempt employees may not work more than forty hours per week. Paid leave taken, such as annual, personal or sick leave will count towards time actually worked. For example, if an employee takes a personal day (8 hours) during the period of pay deductions, the employee may not work more than a total of 32 hours for the rest of the week.

26. Who do I contact if I have more questions?
For payroll-related questions (such as salary information, funding information, etc.) you should first contact the Payroll Preparer in your department ; if questions remain, contact the Human Resources Payroll Department.

For other questions, you should contact the Human Resources Department at x5-2337.