Kansas State University

K-State auxiliary units announce emergency furloughs

Submitted by Communications and Marketing

Several auxiliary operations at Kansas State University are furloughing workers during the summer season in response to shortfalls in revenue. The units affected include Housing & Dining, Recreational Services, Center for Child Development, Lafene Health Center and K-State Student Union. An estimated 349 employees will be furloughed.

The emergency furloughs are necessary to maintain financial stability for auxiliary operations, which are receiving little to no revenue without students on campus. The affected units are required to generate revenues through services and fees which support operations. Cost reductions from these actions total nearly $2 million.

“Early in the pandemic we made two key decisions. The first was to maintain employment levels during this time of limited operations, and the second was to issue refunds to students for housing and dining,” said Thomas Lane, vice president for student life. “While these decisions were right for the time, we are no longer able to maintain employment levels given the reduction in revenues.  We understand the duress this will cause for our employees, and move forward with a spirit of empathy and compassion.”

Furloughs will be effective May 16, with plans for employees to return in time to prepare for the fall semester as conditions allow. K-State’s Division of Human Capital Services is working with the affected employees on options for federal and state benefits.

• Housing and Dining has 207 staff members impacted by emergency furloughs. Traditionally, nine-month employees were offered work in the summer, but this will not be available this year. Current plans call for restoring operations on Aug. 1 to prepare for the fall semester.
• The Recreational Services emergency furlough affects 20 employees, the unit will continue online programming in the summer, which has been growing in participant numbers since limited operations began.
• The Center for Child Development will retain three employees on payroll while 37 will be emergency furloughed. An operations plan is being developed as to how the center could resume operations in a way that protects the health and safety of children and staff.
• Lafene Health Center’s emergency furlough plan reflects various percentages of furlough for staff over the period of May 16-July 31 and impacts 48 staff members.
• K-State Student Union’s emergency furlough plan has staff members coming back on payroll to prepare for an Aug. 1 opening based on duties. Seven staff members remain on payroll throughout the furlough period, while 37 staff are impacted.

Information concerning K-State’s emergency and administrative furlough policies can be found at the Human Capital Services website. Furloughed employees may qualify for state unemployment benefits.