Dear colleagues:
You may be aware that the UW System Board of Regents Executive Committee recently granted chancellors the authority to develop furlough policies for their respective campuses in response to the many financial challenges posed by COVID-19.
Here at UWL our enrollment has been strong and our finances have been very well managed, so we are fortunate that we do not have to implement a campus-wide furlough program (a program that would affect all employees) at this time. Nonetheless, because COVID-19 Leave expires on May 1st and COVID-19 Emergency Family Medical Leave ends on May 11th, we may have no choice but to reassign or furlough a very small group of colleagues whose workloads have been significantly diminished due to COVID-19 related changes. We are also weighing the benefits of offering a range of voluntary furlough options.
We are currently in the process of identifying which particular UWL colleagues meet the qualifications for furlough status. Once these determinations have been made, supervisors and our Human Resources Office will work with affected employees and attempt to reassign them to alternative work responsibilities. If it is not possible to reassign these employees, we will do everything we can to minimize the lengths of their furloughs.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, so will the challenges our university is facing. Please know that the health, well-being and financial stability of our employees are of the utmost importance to us. And we’ll continue making decisions with the best interests of all in mind. Thanks for your continued patience and dedication to UWL as we work together through this unprecedented time.
Take good care,
Joe
Joe Gow, Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
