ABC’s of Staff Layoffs

ABC’s of Staff Layoffs Danielle Schulte UCSD Human Resources Employee Relations (858)534-8011 dgschulte@ucsd.edu 4/2006

PROCESS • First: Decide • What is the reason the layoff? • What type of layoff is it? • What positions will be affected? • Second: Submit proposal to ER • Third: Give notice of layoff to employee(s).

Reasons • Lack of Work • Lack of Funds • Reorganization • Performance is NOT a reason to lay someone off

The justification CANNOT be based on the employee’s performance!

Types of Layoffs • Temporary (<4 months) • Indefinite (4 months +) • Reduction In Time (temporary & indefinite)

Proposal “Layoff or Reduction In Time Proposal” • Submit proposal to ER. • Only for career employees • One complete proposal for each affected employee • signed by both Department Head and the HR contact

Proposal cont’d In addition to the Proposal be sure to include: • Draft of Notice to Employee • Severance election form (if applicable) • Copy of current evaluation • Brief explanation for layoff • Any justifications for retention out of seniority (special skills, knowledge and/or abilities) • Employee’s home address and phone number

Notice • Employees covered by PPSM/SX/Ex/NX: at least 30 days. • Employees covered by CX: 60 days. (45/15 if 60 not feasible) • Employees covered by RX/TX/HX: 60 days. (30/30 if 60 not feasible)

Feasibility & Notice “Plan for the worst & hope for the best” • Loss of Grant or Contact does not justify shorter notice period. • Grant &/or contacts are awarded with end dates.

Notice Cont’d You may notice the employee ONLY AFTER the proposal has been approved by ER.

Seniority • In the same classification (job title) • Within the same Unit Code • Inverse Order of seniority • Seniority determined: • PPSM/CX/RX/TX/HX: Full time equivalent months/hours of University service • SX/EX/NX: Most recent date of hire in a staff career position.

Seniority Cont’d • Ties in Seniority • PPSM/RX/TX/HX/CX: The employee with the most recent date of appointment shall be laid off first • EX/SX: seniority shall be determined according to alphabetical order of the last name • NX: the lowest number formed by the last four digits of the RN license number will be the least senior.

Seniority Cont’d • Waiver of seniority? • PPSM/SX/RX/TX: No • CX: If job duties will change, give new job description to affected employee, employee agrees, then CX & UCSD must also agree. • NX: RN can waive (w/o notice to Union) • HX: Employee can waive w/ University’s approval and w/o Union’s approval

Seniority Cont’d • Layoff out of inverse order of seniority may be allowed if less senior employee has special skills knowledge and abilities not possessed by senior employee • NX/HX: ability to learn within 30 days • SX/CX/EX: can they be learned within 6 months

Preferential Rehire Rights

Recall Rights

Severance • In lieu of Preferential Rehire/Recall • May be eligible for reduced severance • RIT may be eligible for % of severance

Severance Cont’d

Don’t Panic! • Its all on BLINK: http://blink.ucsd.edu/Blink/External/Topics/Policy/0,1162,14652,00.html

Still Confused? Call me! I’m here to help. (858)534-8011 dgschulte@ucsd.edu

ABC’s of Staff Layoffs