Dear Colleagues,
The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) is considering a new system-wide program to achieve additional operational and salary savings in response to the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic. This program would expand our existing winter curtailment period, or add new curtailment days or periods as needed, to achieve a minimum of five curtailment days at every UC location in fiscal year 2020–21.
Potential features that are under consideration:
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A tiered scale, so that those earning the least would take the minimum number of curtailment days, while those earning the most would take the maximum.
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Choosing your own days to take off as curtailment days.
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Using vacation days: the lowest-paid employees would have some ability to use vacation days to cover curtailment days.
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All staff and fiscal-year academic personnel would participate in the program.
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For academic-year appointees, the program would be implemented as an equivalent reduction in salary (based on the salary tiers established under the program) but would not result in additional paid or unpaid time off.
UCOP has asked each campus to solicit feedback from its staff and faculty before UCOP makes its final decisions. Please share your thoughts on the proposed UCOP program below so that we can compile and provide them to UCOP as part of the recommendations this campus makes.
Please note that we cannot answer many questions at this early stage because plans are still in development. Your feedback will help shape the final program.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Eugene & Ben
Eugene Whitlock, Chief People & Culture Officer
Benjamin E. Hermalin, Vice Provost for the Faculty