UC Implements Staff and Academic Reduction in Time Program

The University is implementing a new, two-year Staff and Academic Reduction in Time (START) Program to provide eligible employees an opportunity to voluntarily reduce their working time and corresponding pay as a way to save on salary expenses. START is a temporary, voluntary program in which eligible employees may, with the approval of their department, reduce their working hours and corresponding pay between 10 percent and 50 percent. Participants, who must remain on pay status at least 50 percent of full-time each month while on START, continue to accrue vacation, sick leave and UC Retirement Plan service credit at their pre-START accrual rate. The reduction in time and pay will help the University achieve temporary salary savings during this period of budgetary shortfall. The program is similar to one offered by UC to employees from 2003 to 2006 which saved the system $14.9 million in that time period. Implementation of START is at the discretion of unit managers. In instances where departments elect to offer START, employees may begin signing up for the program immediately. The program will be in effect from July 1 through June 30, 2010. Those eligible to participate in START are non-probationary, career staff and academic appointees, except those in faculty and student academic titles and postdoctoral scholars. At this time, only non-represented staff and staff represented by the University Professional and Technical Employees are eligible to participate. Participation in the START Program for other represented employees is dependent upon agreement by the applicable union. The program guidelines, a program brochure describing the features of START, including useful questions and answers, and START contract forms are [available online at the UCOP website](http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies_employee_labor_relations/start.html).

UCSF Process

In all cases, participation in START requires approval by the department head or additional levels of approval as determined by the department head. A START contract must be completed for each employee approved to participate in the program. The following describes the documentation process for establishing a START contract: 1. A START Contract, U270, must be completed and signed by both the START participant and the department head or designee. 2. A START Contract Amendment, U271, must be completed and signed by both the START participant and the department head or designee when a START contract is terminated early or the percentage of time reduction is changed. 3. Both forms must be completed and entered into the campus payroll system by the department. Further instructions will be forthcoming on how to enter the contract information into the Online Payroll Personnel System. 4. The START participant's department is the office of record for both forms. Copies of the completed forms are to be provided to the employee, Human Resources - Labor and Employee Relations, at campus box 1202, and to Retirement Administration at the Office of the President, at .PO Box 24570, Oakland, CA 94623-1570. Staff questions related to this policy may be directed to Mark Gottas at . Academic questions may be directed to Cynthia Leathers at .