The State Worker: AMPLIFICATION: Departments making furlough plans

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The State Worker

Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

December 29, 2008

AMPLIFICATION: Departments making furlough plans

We're hearing that policymakers at various state departments and agencies are hammering out furlough specifics for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's consideration. We understand that at least two agencies are considering the following:

Entire facility shutdowns. The idea is to save building operating costs and personnel scheduling hassles by simply closing down for two days each month. The other option would be to keep offices open as they are now and stagger unpaid days off among staff. Some departments, we hear, are considering that plan.

Suspending flexible scheduling. Everyone would work the same schedule, again, to ease managing the furlough.

We also hear that Franchise Tax Board employees have been told that they are exempt -- for now. Ditto for folks at the Board of Equalization. Both agencies generate money for the state, so it behooves the governor to keep those squirrels on the treadmill. Still, the governor could withdraw the FTB exemption, according to an e-mail that we've seen, if Schwarzenegger determines that the state needs to make more salary cuts.

Dec. 30 AMPLIFICATION

From the FTB e-mail:

We have been asked to share this message with you along with the caveat that the intent of the Administration regarding exemptions could change if economic conditions worsen.

We read this as meaning that FTB's exemption could be withdrawn, but one user questioned our interpretation. He believes the e-mail implies that all exemptions across departments are subject to review.

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