Working at UW : University of Wisconsin–Madison
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Employee News

April 29, 2020

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UW–Madison Announces Additional Cost-Control Measures

Chancellor Rebecca Blank notified employees today that UW–Madison will be implementing additional expense reductions, including employee furloughs, in response to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university finances. The cost-saving measures include campus-wide furloughs, leadership pay cuts, a Work-Share program, position-specific furloughs, and possible reassignments. The largest financial contributions will come from campus leadership and the highest earners. These steps will take effect no earlier than May 15 and continue through October 31, 2020.

These short-term actions are estimated to save up to $30 million toward the more than $100 million shortfall the university is facing. These steps follow other actions that have already been taken to control costs, including canceling new investments, freezing travel, making changes to infrastructure projects, redoubling efforts to enroll a strong freshman class, and more.

The chancellor stressed that protecting the health and safety of our community is the university’s first priority. She expressed gratitude to all UW-Madison employees for their important role in the campus response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special thank you to those working onsite in essential capacities to preserve campus operations. The full text of the chancellor’s message can be viewed online and has been translated into multiple languages.
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Furlough Information for Employees Online

The Office of Human Resources is providing furlough information online at hr.wisc.edu/covid19/furlough. Employees will find information on the various types of furlough and how they will be implemented, as well as details on the Work-Share program, reassignments, and voluntary leaves of absence. Details are also provided on leave provisions, possible eligibility for unemployment benefits, and employee benefits during furlough. Translations of key materials into other languages will be added in the coming days. Employees are encouraged to review this information, including the frequently asked questions, in order to better understand how the cost-saving measures may affect them. Employees will receive notification of their status and additional information in May.
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Where to Find Help with Furlough and Leave Topics

UW-Madison is offering a variety of resources for employees who have individual questions about furlough, leave, and related topics. Employees are encouraged to contact the human resources (HR) department in their school, college, or division. A list of HR contacts can be found at hr.wisc.edu/contact. The Office of Human Resources also offers assistance and can be contacted at 608-265-2257 or furlough@ohr.wisc.edu. For language assistance, employees may contact Cultural Linguistic Services (CLS). Direct line phone numbers for each language can be found at hr.wisc.edu/cls.
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