As cuts loom, WSU changes layoff notice

Unclassified staff will be affected by university’s new policy.

Wright State University officials are slashing the notice they have to give unclassified staff who are laid off as they prepare for staff cuts.

A change to university policy effective April 3 requires the university to give one week of notice to each unclassified laid off employee for each year of service, with a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of 24 weeks.

The change goes into effect the same month cuts and layoffs are expected to be announced to balance the university’s budget after over-spending. The pending policy is a drastic reduction from current policy, which says WSU unclassified staff

members must be given notice prior to being laid off ranging

from 2 months for employees of less than 3 years, to up to a year for employees who worked there 15 or more years.

This means an employee who is laid off after 10 years of service with the univer- sity will get to stay on the payroll for 2.5 months while finding a new job, instead of

the nine months required in the current policy.

An email to staff announc- ing the change said WSU’s length of notice provided under the current policy was at least twice as long as any other public university in Ohio.

“The revised policy continues to provide a period of transition for employees whose positions are elim- inated through no fault of the employee, but also amends a financially imprudent approach,” it said.

The review found people given nine or 12 months of notice typically didn’t work the full time.

The university has roughly 1,000 unclassified employees. The policy change affects unclassified staff who are not employed with the university through special or renewable contracts, according to university officials.

The university’s total workforce is around 2,800, including union-represented faculty and contract employees who are not affected by the policy.

“The policy has been revised to better align with both industry best practices and current financial condi-

tions,” said WSU spokesman Seth Bauguess in an email in response to questions.

“The policy needed revision because it was well out

side industry best practices and out of alignment with the same policies at other Ohio public universities.”