A: All employees in the Executive branch (except the Departments of Education, Law, State and Treasury) are covered under the mandatory furlough requirement. The state’s Department of Personnel and Administration has been working on the furlough proposal for weeks, noting “The slowing economy and pandemic has resulted in increased unemployment and declining consumer spending, which, in turn, have adversely impacted State revenues,” according to “talking points” prepared for department leaders. A shutdown furlough (also called an emergency furlough) occurs when there is a lapse in appropriations, and can occur at the beginning of a fiscal year, if no funds have been appropriated for that year, or upon expiration of a continuing resolution, if a new continuing resolution or appropriations law is not passed. This page will be updated as warranted. Although FLSA exempt employees are not bound by 40-hour workweeks during non-furloughed weeks, they should not be expected to work additional hours to make up for furlough time or more hours than they would normally work if it were not for the mandatory furloughs. Furlough days have been mandated for Colorado state workers who make above $50,000. There may be a business need that requires employees to work on the mandatory furlough days. Note: Always consult your legal counsel before implementing any reduction event. A: No, overtime can be worked during the furlough week regardless of funding source that pays the employees salary. Agencies trying to capture savings associated with the furloughs in FY 2020-21 to meet reduction targets should take note of this and manage employee furloughs to be taken by June 1, 2021 to avoid having the savings shifted into the next fiscal year. Colorado typically pays about 55% of an employee's salary. In crafting the exemptions, the Governor's Office endeavored to balance fairness and equity with the need to ensure that essential round-the-clock services, public safety, and services in high-demand because of the economic downturn are not disrupted. ©2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Annual Leave: Many of the furlough-exempt employees are in positions where annual leave must be planned long in advance in order to effectively manage the overall workforce and staffing levels throughout the fiscal year. A: Certain criteria must be met in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Jared Polis. If the furlough day is scheduled to occur the day the employee would be off, the employee needs to work with their appointing authority and department HR office to make alternate arrangements. Sick Leave: It is critical that employees who are sick, particularly those employees with contagious illnesses, not come to work and expose their fellow employees. For questions about Highest Average Salary (HAS) calculations, purchase of service credit, and other retirement issues, contact PERA customer service at 303-832-9550 (1-800-759-7372 toll free) or visit the PERA website at: www.copera.org/ or email Customer Service for general questions. If the employee has one furlough day per month, they would take four hours. A: Flexible schedules can still apply. Employees in Colorado and certain members of their family whose group health plan ends due to a specified qualifying event may be eligible for a temporary continuation of their healthcare coverage at group rates, under a federal law known as the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). A: For monthly paid employees, the scheduled furlough the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27, 2020, will be reflected in your November 30, 2020 paycheck for the November pay period. If necessary, go over the key points to be discussed in the meeting beforehand. To meet the personal services reduction targets established in the Long Bill, without disruption to government services, a small part of the required reduction will be met through furloughs. The following are frequently asked questions regarding mandatory furloughs for state employees in FY 2020-21. The slowing economy and pandemic has resulted in increased unemployment and declining consumer spending, which, in turn, have adversely impacted State revenues. DENVER, Colorado “-A state lawmaker wants to furlough state employees 1-2 days a month and use the savings to cushion Colorado’s universities from budget cuts. Polis on September 23, 2020. Queried by CBS4 about the pending furloughs, Conor Cahill, Press Secretary for Gov. The draft plan shows that full-time state workers making a base salary less than $50,000 would not be required to take furlough days. A: The employee may combine hours from two or more furlough days and take them in one day, if approved by the supervisor. Another common schedule is the "5x4" where employees work four days every other week. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Employees are categorized into two groups: exempt and nonexempt employees. Unemployment Rate - November 2020 Colorado: 6.4% National: 6.7% Colorado Job Growth (SA) Oct'20 - Nov'20: -6,900 Nov'19 - Nov'20: -128,200 2021 Minimum Wage The annualized hourly rate does not include any temporary pay differentials, shift differentials, hazard pay or other premium pay. A: For employees who are currently on injury leave or FMLA, the leave is not impacted. If the employee begins working for the State after the furlough day, the employee is required to take floating furlough days as outlined in the chart below. Furlough Law and Legal Definition Furlough means “the placing of an employee in a temporary status without duties and pay because of lack of work or funds or other nondisciplinary reasons.” (5 USCS § … Department of Public Health and Environment: designated employees who are critical to the COVID-19 response and work in the State Laboratory, employees dedicated to prevent outbreaks in health facilities, employees who are responsible for administering Women, Infants and Children programs, employees who administer child and adult care food programs, and employees responsible for the newborn screening program at the State Laboratory. Generally, agencies will be flexible when the additional furlough days will be taken but this may be restricted based on business needs. Jared Polis, according to internal state emails and other documents obtained in a CBS4 Investigation. As noted above, however, a great deal of weight was given to fairness and the need to treat similarly situated employees, regardless of funding source, the same. However confidential state documents obtained by CBS4 show the first two unpaid furlough days would be scheduled for Nov. 27, 2020, the day after Thanksgiving, and Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, the day after President’s Day. In order to avoid creating an incentive for furlough-exempt employees to come to work while sick or contagious on furlough days, furlough-exempt employees will be permitted to take paid sick leave on the designated furlough day. In formulating the furlough plan, position funding was among the competing factors considered. One, state services will be impacted because over 75% of employees are required to take one furlough day. 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