The Staff and Academic Reduction in Time (START) Program -- a budget-cutting measure that allows staff employees to request a temporary reduction of their work time -- will officially get under way in June.

The program, announced in mid-winter quarter, has been undergoing systemwide review.

Both represented and non-represented employees may begin applying for START agreements immediately. Approvals will take place after June 15, but employees may submit START proposals after that date as well.

The program will be ongoing until June 30, 2005. The minimum time reduction is 10 percent and the maximum is 50 percent, as long as a total appointment remains at or above 50 percent. Also, the minimum duration of the agreement is one month, and the maximum is 12 months. Employees who participate will accrue service credit, vacation and sick leave at their normal rate.

Departments and employees have the right to terminate a START agreement early, after giving 30 days notice.

"There is considerable flexibility in the design of START," said Dennis Shimek, senior associate vice chancellor for Human Resources, in a directive sent last Friday advising supervisors about the new program. "This will give departments wide latitude to implement START effectively within the context of their missions, operational needs, service requirements, and budgets," he said.

More details, a Q&A about START, and application forms are online at http://www.hr.ucdavis.edu/Policy/Start.

For further information, contact Human Resources at 754-8892.

-- Dateline staff report