FAQs for furloughed employees
Will furlough status begin immediately once an employee is notified?
No. Supervisors will notify employees of the start date of the furloughs and then make arrangements with employees to wrap up existing projects and transition work to colleagues.
Am I still considered an employee of UD while on furlough status?
Yes. A furlough is an unpaid leave of absence during which you will retain University benefits.
Am I eligible for unemployment compensation?
You may be eligible for Ohio unemployment benefits and additional benefits under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Visit https://unemploymenthelp.ohio.
I am having difficulty applying for unemployment, what should I do?
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is experiencing a high volume of claims. If you are having difficulty applying or have questions regarding your PIN, account, eligibility, submitting information, claim status, etc., please use resources on their website such as the Workers Guide to Unemployment Compensation, the Step by Step guide, or contact customer service via the online chat feature or by phone at 877-644-6562 for assistance. Call center hours have been extended to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.
Will I retain my benefits during a furlough? How do I make benefit deduction payments each month if I am not receiving a paycheck from the university?
During your furlough, you will continue to receive health care, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, life insurance plans, and/or long-term care insurance, provided you're already enrolled. If enrolled in the University’s healthcare, you will not be responsible for paying your portion of the monthly premiums, however, where applicable, you still are responsible for paying the employee portion of the premiums for all other voluntary benefits such as dental and voluntary life insurance. You will not accrue or use vacation or sick time during your furlough, and the University will not make retirement contributions.
To insure your premium payments remain current, Business Plans Inc. will debit the same account you have set up for direct deposit of your paycheck. This will insure your benefits will continue uninterrupted and so you will not owe a significant amount of premiums after your furlough.
You can estimate how much Business Plans will deduct from your account by adding your deductions in your pay stub, which you can find at the HR Connections tab on Porches. The amounts billed will be 2x that amount as HR is billing monthly. Business Plans will be sending out a notification prior to the first debit so employees will know the amounts.
For any questions about your billing, please contact Business Plans directly at 800-865-4485 or email the UD Benefits mailbox at benefits@udayton.edu.
How long will I stay on furlough status?
Furloughs are temporary. The University will continually assess return dates for furloughed employees but cannot commit to a return date as of now. Please make sure the Office of Human Resources (937-229-2541 or hr@udayton.edu) has your personal contact information on file so we can communicate with you during your furlough.
Is there a deadline at which time I would be laid off?
It is the University's intention to bring furloughed employees back to work. However, depending on the duration of the pandemic and the associated economic impacts, furloughed employees could be laid off, and if so, the University will notify employees as soon as possible and provide resources to assist them.
How will furloughed employees be notified of a recall? Will there be a notice period?
Please make sure the Office of Human Resources has your personal contact information (937-229-2541 or hr@udayton.edu) on file so we can communicate with you during your furlough. The University will provide ample notice for employees to prepare to return to work.
Can a furloughed employee volunteer to work while on furlough status?
No. You are not authorized to work without advance written authorization from your direct supervisor. We encourage you to set your out-of-office notifications to notify people you will not respond during your furlough and refer them to a colleague in your absence.
Will a furloughed employee still have access to email, Porches, etc.?
Yes, but you are not authorized to work without advance written authorization from your direct supervisor during your furlough. We also encourage you to set your out-of-office notifications to notify people you will not respond during your furlough and refer them to a colleague in your absence. But we do understand if you need to access your email or Porches for certain instances such as receiving information from the University or updating benefit information.
Can a furloughed employee accept a job with a different employer while on furlough status?
Your employment with UD continues to be at-will, meaning you are free to accept another job at any time, provided it doesn't violate the terms of any contracts you have with the University. You can accept temporary employment during a furlough, but it may affect the amount of your unemployment benefits. If during furlough you decide you want to accept a new job from another employer, you can resign (separate) from the University, provided it doesn't violate the terms of any employment contracts such as conflict of interest or non-compete clauses.
How should supervisors complete PAF forms to show an employee being furloughed?
The Office of Human Resources will prepare needed PAFs.
How does a furlough affect an employee already on an approved leave of absence?
If you are on an approved leave of absence and receive a furlough notice, please contact Human Resources at 937-229-2541 to discuss the situation specific to you.
Are there any additional resources available to me?
Day Air Credit Union has a variety of borrower assistance programs to help members. Click here for more information. The Employee Assistance Program also remains available as a resource for you. TIAA is offering virtual financial counseling sessions.