HRMS - Continuation of the RECESS Program
May 3, 2012
The following message was also sent to Dean, Directors, Department Heads, HR Leads and HR Pros:
Continuation of the RECESS ProgramAfter receiving numerous questions regarding the continuation of the RECESS Program, we are pleased to announce its continuation.
The RECESS program was initiated as a pilot program three years ago. It is clear from our consultations, and the continued viability of the RECESS as a benefit for both employees and their departments that there is value in continuing the offering. For employees, RECESS provides flexibility in their work effort; and for departments, RECESS serves to generate financial savings. As before, these arrangements must be mutually agreeable with the employee and the responsible administrator/supervisor.
As before, the RECESS Program will continue as a means for departments to offer a benefit to interested employees to temporarily reduce their hours of work while receiving the same University contribution toward their medical and dental benefits in effect at the time the reduction begins. However, RECESS was never intended as a commitment to an ongoing reduction of work effort. As such, participation will now be limited to a finite total of 24 months that may be spread out over any number of years. The tracking of this limit should go back to the 2009-2010 inception of the Program. Therefore, if you have employees who have accessed the RECESS program, and have already reached the maximum of 24 months, they will no longer be eligible to participate in the continuation of RECESS.
For specific information regarding the Program, please refer to Reduce Employment Costs through Employee Salary Savings (RECESS) – A Program for Non-Represented Faculty and Staff at:
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/recess/. Revisions have been made to the agreement forms offering space to document an employee's history of participation.
Kathryn F. Brown
Vice President for Human Resources
