Wichita State University has notified employees whether or not they will be placed under furlough if the Legislature does not reach a budget deal before midnight Saturday.
In emails sent out Friday afternoon, employees were notified of their status under the potential furlough. Effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, June 7, “non-essential” employees will be placed on furlough for an undetermined amount of time unless lawmakers can pass a tax plan that closes the state’s projected $800 million gap.
Thousands of state employees face possible furloughed hours. WSU said in a press release Thursday that employees placed under furlough will be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Original story published June 4 at 5:53 p.m.
All employees "non-essential" to critical Wichita State University's operations could be placed on furlough for an undesignated period of time if the State Legislature does not reach a budget agreement by the end of the week, school president John Bardo says.
In a press release sent out Thursday afternoon, Bardo outlined the details of the university's plan if furloughs were to take place due to an unfunded state budget. The update came a day after school officials announced the university was preparing for possible furloughs.
Bardo said that the furlough would begin on Sunday, June 7, if Gov. Sam Brownback does not sign legislature authorizing expenditures prior to 11:59 p.m. Saturday night.
During the furlough period, the pay of non-essential employees will be reduced by the number of furlough hours that are applied during any given pay period.
However, employees will continue to have health insurance coverage for the duration of the furlough period.
All affected employees may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
WSU employees can expect to receive furlough notices as early as noon on Friday. If an agreement is reached at the Kansas Statehouse, the university will rescind those notices.
Have more questions? Check out WSU's FAQ website regarding the potential furloughs.
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