Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

INSIDE IOWA STATE
March 15, 2002

Council's severance proposal likely to hit roadblocks

by Anne Krapfl
Knowing that several components in the proposal simply can't be done, Professional and Scientific Council members approved a motion March 7 that would provide more extensive job search help, medical benefits and cash to P&S employees who lose their jobs due to financial cutbacks. The proposal, which will be forwarded to provost Rollin Richmond and vice president for business and finance Warren Madden, would replace language in the P&S "Dismissal due to reorganization or financial conditions" policy.

The proposed severance package includes:

Access to university computers, e-mail, the Internet, copy and fax machines, at no cost.
Out-placement services, if requested by employee, at no cost.
An employee's same health insurance coverage and costs for up to three months following his or her last work day.
90-days' severance pay.
Cash for accumulated sick leave (converted on a 3:1 ratio to vacation) of up to $2,000.

Human resource services director Carla Espinoza, who regularly attends council meetings, told council members the last two items aren't possible under state employment regulations.

"The expectation in state government is you work for your salary," she said. She also said sick leave is a benefit, not compensation, and can't be paid out. If it's paid out as compensation (upon conversion), then it's also subject to income tax.

Espinoza also said continued coverage under an ISU health insurance plan after a person's job ends could compromise eligibility later for COBRA insurance (temporary health insurance).

In spite of Espinoza's comments, the motion passed unanimously. "Our colleagues are looking at some tough times. They need to know we're trying to help them out," said council member Barry McCroskey.

Family leave policy
The council also passed a motion requesting that a March 7 draft of a policy for P&S employees and faculty regarding family leave be withheld from discussion at the March 11 President's Cabinet meeting.

The most recent draft includes a paragraph that outlines the relationship between the university's family leave policy and the federal FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). It also includes more specific language about extension of the probationary period for tenure-track faculty and assigns to the department the task of covering an employee's duties while he or she is on leave. New language calls for the policy to be reviewed three years after it is implemented.

Council members generally said the draft was an improvement over the Jan. 24 draft they reviewed, but objected to the short time between its release and proposed discussion at the cabinet level.

Council members also objected to a revised definition of P&S staff who would be covered under the policy because it excludes a large number of P&S staff. The new definition is "continuous P&S employees or P&S employees on contracts of at least three years." According to ISU's Office of Institutional Research, about 46 percent of P&S employees' salaries are covered by so-called "soft" money -- contracts, grants, fees -- and are not considered "continuous." Some of these employees are on three-year appointments, but most have one- or two-year contracts.

In other business, the council:

Approved a motion requesting that the "official" online versions of the OPG (Office Procedure Guide) and P&S Handbook be brought up to date and in agreement by May 1.

Approved a motion that supports the restoration or replacement of Morrill Hall "provided those efforts result in a building that is both contextually and strategically appropriate." President Gregory Geoffroy has asked for comments on Morrill Hall's future by March 15. (See story Morrill Hall story.) The council's next meeting begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Memorial Union Pioneer Room. Assistant provost Ellen Rasmussen and assistant to the president for budget planning Mark Chidister are scheduled to provide a budget update during a noon forum in the same location.