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  5. Furloughs

Furloughs

The Chancellor’s Executive Cabinet (CEC) has decided to implement furloughs for classified and exempt (represented and non-represented) staff. Furlough days will be implemented following the Collective Bargaining Agreements where appropriate. Note: faculty and staff working in grant-funded programs are excluded from these furloughs.

Represented Exempt staff who are funded through grant funded sources (i.e. through appropriations indexes 145 and 146) may elect to participate in the furlough on a voluntary basis, as out lined in the MOU between AFT-SPS and the District.

The entire Seattle Colleges District implemented furlough days for 2020 on Friday, July 17 and Friday, July 24. Two additional mandatory 8-hour furlough days for all classified, exempt and pro staff employees are set for Friday, August 21 (except positions that are majority grant funded). These days have been strategically identified to allow progress for ctcLink integration to continue. Staff will continue to be eligible for the State's SharedWork program and file for unemployment for these additional furlough dates.

Seattle Colleges has been approved for the state’s SharedWork Program for funding through the CARES Act. This will allow employees to be compensated by unemployment benefits for their furlough time, whether a full or partial week.

Through July 25, employees who are classified or exempt who are furloughed or experience a reduction in hours can get unemployment for their reduced hours plus an extra $600 weekly payment paid by the federal government. After July 25, employees may still file weekly unemployment filings to receive the partial unemployment benefit, although the additional $600 per week will not be available. Learn more about applying for SharedWork.

All classified and exempt staff (represented and non-represented) should have receive an individualized letter that included the information you will need to apply for SharedWork (e.g. your start date, your hourly pay rate, etc.). If the information you use when you apply for SharedWork doesn’t match what ESD has on file, it can delay processing your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We know this is a stressful situation and you have many questions. Please refer to this list of FAQs as a starting point. Please check back regularly as we will continue to add information. You can also reach out to your campus' HR team if you need more information or your question is not addressed in the FAQ.