The Office of the President has approved a one-year extension of the Staff and Academic Reduction in Time (START) Program for those employees who already participated in the program.
The extension allows eligible participants to voluntarily reduce their working time during the extension period beginning July 1, 2005, until no later than June 30, 2006.
Those eligible to participate in the program are employees who participated in the program at any time during the July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 fiscal year. Such participants may enter into a START contract during the extension period beginning July 1 in accordance with the program's basic provisions, as follows:
• Participants voluntarily reduce their working time from a minimum of 10 percent to a maximum of 50 percent of full-time, and for a minimum of one month to a maximum of 12 months.
• On a month-by-month basis during their START contract, participants earn vacation and sick leave credits at the same rate as before START.
• On a month-by-month basis during their START contract, participating UCRP members earn UCRP service credit for each START month at the same rate as before START (must be on pay status for at least 50 percent of full-time during each month of participation).
• Participants' UC health and welfare, retirement, disability, and survivor benefits are not affected during START.
• Reduced work schedules are at the convenience of the department and approved by the department head.
• The time reduction may be changed only once during the term of the START contract with 30 days advance notice.
• Participation may be terminated by the employee or the department head by giving 30 days advance notice of intent to terminate the START contract.
• Medical Center departments do not participate in the START program.
Updated program description, a Q & A, 2005-06 contract, and other relevant information are posted
here.
