A program that allowed faculty and staff to voluntarily reduce work hours in exchange for a corresponding pay reduction will end Dec. 31, 2010.
The Staff and Academic Reduction in Time program, or START, was enacted in 2003 as a temporary measure to help the university cope with budget shortfalls.
Eligible faculty and staff who chose to participate were allowed to reduce their hours up to 50 percent, while maintaining pre-START accruals for vacation, sick leave and retirement benefits.
The Regents extended the initial program to mitigate the impact of additional budget cuts, said John Fox, director of Human Resource Policies. In 2009 alone, UC achieved salary savings of roughly $16 million through employee participation in START.
The temporary program is scheduled to end on December 31, and UC administration will not recommend another extension.
"Although many employees have appreciated the program and it has helped UC save on salaries, this is the right time for it to end," Fox said.