[March 30, 2011]

Career staff would be allowed to voluntarily reduce their time and pay in exchange for specific advantages under a proposed program to help campuses address the current budget crisis.

UC faces a $500 million reduction in state funding for fiscal year 2011-12, and UC Human Resources has developed the Employee-Initiated Reduction in Time (ERIT) Program (ERIT) as an optional tool to help campuses, medical centers and other locations deal with budget reductions, should a location or organizational unit choose to implement it.

ERIT is similar to the expired Staff and Academic Reduction in Time Program (START).

It would allow career staff employees – except senior managers – to voluntarily reduce pay and hours worked from 5 to 50 percent of full time so that the university can achieve salary savings.

The university realized $25.6 million in savings from START in fiscal year 2009-2010, the last full year of the program. START was available to both academic and staff employees, while ERIT would apply to staff employees only.

Employees could choose to participate in the program for one month or more through June 30, 2012, unless the university extends the program.

In return for a voluntary reduction in time, participants would:

• Accrue vacation and sick leave credits at the rate accrued prior to participation in ERIT;
• Continue their UC health and welfare benefits without changes to premiums or benefits while participating in ERIT;
• Have retirement benefits calculated based on their pre-ERIT compensation rate.

UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) contributions would be based on the reduced salary, and UCRP service credit would accrue based on the reduced appointment.

Represented employees' participation in [ERIT] would be subject to collective bargaining, and their exclusive representatives have been invited to submit comments on behalf of the employees they represent.

Employees are invited to comment on the proposed Employee-Initiated Reduction in Time Program (ERIT) to the local Human Resources Office.

• Review the proposed program online.

See your local HR office for the comment period deadline.

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