Spring Break
Hogan asks managers to work one day unpaid
Katherine Martinez
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: News
President Michael Hogan has asked University managers to voluntarily work one day without pay as part of The Day On for UConn program, according to Lisa Troyer, chief of staff.
The request came in response to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's proposal that executives and non-union managers across the state take a day of unpaid leave. According to the governor's Web site, the goal is to help prevent as many layoffs as possible.
Although the request by Gov. Rell was to take the day off without pay, Hogan is inviting his non-unionized employees to volunteer their pay for a day that they come to work. The aim here is to support the state's financial troubles without disrupting services to the students, said Troyer.
There are 106 managers at UConn who qualify to work a day unpaid, according to Karen Grava, UConn's director of media communications. Those who decide to do so must designate a specific day on their time card before March 1. The money will be given back to the state to help the budget crisis. Since the program is strictly voluntary, it is impossible to predict how much money will be saved.
According to the governor's Web site, the deficits for the next two fiscal years are projected to be at least $2.6 and $3.3 billion, respectively.
"The state is in a really difficult place right now," said Troyer. "We're all in this together so we should do what we can."
Troyer recognizes that giving up a day's pay is not easy - UConn managers get paid by the state every two weeks. Cutting out one day of pay is essentially a 10 percent pay cut for the next two weeks. Some people who depend on a certain income each week just cannot afford it, says Troyer.
Nevertheless, many UConn employees are in favor of the program. Professors at UConn are members of the American Association of University Professors union (AAUP), and cannot participate in the program. Still, Troyer notes that they are voicing a strong support to those who are qualified to participate.
"Already we've heard deans and vice presidents who are supporting the idea," said Troyer.
Gov. Rell worked without pay on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to start the initiative. According to Troyer, President Hogan will also work one day without pay but has yet to schedule which day exactly.
The request came in response to Gov. M. Jodi Rell's proposal that executives and non-union managers across the state take a day of unpaid leave. According to the governor's Web site, the goal is to help prevent as many layoffs as possible.
Although the request by Gov. Rell was to take the day off without pay, Hogan is inviting his non-unionized employees to volunteer their pay for a day that they come to work. The aim here is to support the state's financial troubles without disrupting services to the students, said Troyer.
There are 106 managers at UConn who qualify to work a day unpaid, according to Karen Grava, UConn's director of media communications. Those who decide to do so must designate a specific day on their time card before March 1. The money will be given back to the state to help the budget crisis. Since the program is strictly voluntary, it is impossible to predict how much money will be saved.
According to the governor's Web site, the deficits for the next two fiscal years are projected to be at least $2.6 and $3.3 billion, respectively.
"The state is in a really difficult place right now," said Troyer. "We're all in this together so we should do what we can."
Troyer recognizes that giving up a day's pay is not easy - UConn managers get paid by the state every two weeks. Cutting out one day of pay is essentially a 10 percent pay cut for the next two weeks. Some people who depend on a certain income each week just cannot afford it, says Troyer.
Nevertheless, many UConn employees are in favor of the program. Professors at UConn are members of the American Association of University Professors union (AAUP), and cannot participate in the program. Still, Troyer notes that they are voicing a strong support to those who are qualified to participate.
"Already we've heard deans and vice presidents who are supporting the idea," said Troyer.
Gov. Rell worked without pay on Tuesday, Jan. 13, to start the initiative. According to Troyer, President Hogan will also work one day without pay but has yet to schedule which day exactly.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
abdul
posted 1/23/09 @ 6:47 PM EST
I would like to see Hogan work more than one unpaid day.
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