The Governor’s furlough mandate, established in response to the State’s projected budget shortfall, requires an effective cut in pay for all full-time, 12-month employees equivalent to 16 days over the two-year period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011. The resulting furlough time off (FTO), required by the Governor and approved by the State Legislature, is required for all State and University employees, regardless of the funding sources used for their individual salaries and benefits. The mandatory furloughs result in a 3.065% annual pay reduction. 

Messages from President Reilly

• July 3, 2009
• June 23, 2009
• June 1, 2009
• May 7, 2009

UW System Furlough Plan
UW System Furlough Plan - Web Accessible Equivalent
Approved by Office of State Employment Relations
Revised per OSER directive July 16, 2009

Employee Guidelines At-a-Glance

1. Find your employee furlough group listed below (regardless of funding source) and click on the appropriate link.
2. On the table, find the row that represents your pay status or classification. The table explains:

• How the furlough will be implemented each fiscal year
• Reporting requirements
• A sample salary calculation

Employee Furlough Groups:

• Faculty, Instructional Academic Staff, Legal Counsel, and Physicians (Revised July 16)
  
  
• Non-Instructional Academic Staff, Limited Appointees, and Employees in Training (Revised July 16)
  
  
• Classified Staff (Revised September 23)
  
  
• Student Employees (Teaching Assistants, Resident Assistants, PAs, Graduate Assistants, and Student Hourly) are not subject to the furloughs.
  
  
• H-1B and E-3 visa holders - See UW System Furlough Plan Guideline #17, page 4

Questions? If you are unsure about your employee furlough group, or have other questions, please contact your institution's HR office.

Frequently Asked Questions

• UW System Furlough FAQs Revised September 14, 2009
• OSER Furlough FAQs This document, published by the Office of State Employment Relations, applies to Executive Branch agencies and the University of Wisconsin System.
  Contents:
  • General Questions
  • Work Schedule Questions
  • Compensation and Leave Questions
  • Benefit Questions
  • Payroll Questions

UW System Resources

• Contact: Furlough HR contacts for each UW institution
• Calendar of fixed furlough days: By institution | By date (Revised August 21, 2009)
• Tips: Furlough Tips and Tools
• Guidance for Managers and Supervisors - coming soon
• UW System Service Center Furlough User Guide
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for each UW institution
• Glossary of Terms

State Documents and Resources

• Memo on Agency Furlough Plans from DOA Secretary Morgan (June 23, 2009)
• Executive Order 285 (June 23, 2009)
• State Furlough Plan (June 23, 2009)
• Memo on Furloughs and Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits (July 7, 2009)
• Furloughs in Other States
• OSER Furlough Website

U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheets

• Salary basis 
• Exempt employees
• Exempt professionals (including teachers)
• Special provisions for employees of public (state government) agencies (regulation)