UCSF home pageUCSF home pageAbout UCSFSearch UCSFUCSF Medical Center
UCSF navigation bar
HR Home | Jobs | Compensation | Benefits | Labor Relations | Recruitment | Learning | Disability | FSAP | Interim Staffing
Username Password Lost password? | Help
Trouble Logging in to At Your Service? Email: customer.service@ucop.edu

HR Update; December 4, 2009

Subscribe to HR Update with RSS

In this Edition

Back to Top

Modifications to the Staff and Academic Reduction in Time Program

Effective November 1, 2009, the Staff and Academic Reduction in Time (START) Program has been modified as described below. As you are aware, START is a temporary program implemented for two years as of July 1, 2008 that allows eligible employees to voluntarily reduce their time and corresponding pay in order for the University to achieve salary savings during the current budget crisis.

Modifications to START:

Extension of the end date of the program to December 31, 2010
Employees who participate in START during the period in which the Furlough/Salary Reduction Plan is in effect are not subject to the time reductions required under the F/S Plan if their START time reduction is the same as or greater than the time reduction mandated by the F/S Plan. Because of the success of the START program in addressing budget reductions by responding to both employee and employer needs and reducing the need for layoffs, campuses requested the extension of START to more closely align with the end date of the F/S Plan.

Adjustment of the 5 percent minimum reduction in time
The 5 percent minimum reduction in time under START may be adjusted to a lower percentage when necessary in limited circumstances to accommodate local implementation of the Furlough/Salary Reduction Plan for START participants. The Regents on November 19, 2009 authorized the amendment of UCRP to accommodate the above modifications.

Eligibility of probationary staff employees to participate in START
Originally, eligibility for participation in START for staff employees was limited to “regular status” (career non-probationary) employees. In response to campus requests, probationary staff employees are now eligible to participate in the program with the approval of the Department Head. Enabling probationary employees to participate in START would generate further salary savings and/or avoid layoffs. Since there is no certainty about whether all of these employees will be converted to career status at the end of their probationary period, we have included language in the START guidelines indicating that continuation of a START contract through its end date is subject to management discretion in granting career status. In addition, please note that eligibility of probationary staff employees to participate in the START is intended to be in effect during the Furlough/Salary Reduction Plan and will be subject to reassessment if START is continued beyond December 31, 2010 or is re-implemented at a future date.

View the START guidelines reflecting the above modifications. The guidelines, as well as the other START documents (brochure, Q&A, contract, and contract amendment) will be made available online.

Questions regarding the START modifications may be directed to HR Policy Director John Fox at or (510) 987-0314.

Back to Top

UCSF Medical Group Changes Reminder

For employees and/or their dependents enrolled in Health Net or Anthem Blue Cross Plus, and affected by the UCSF Medical group change in affiliation to Hill Physicians, there is still time to change your primary care provider and/or your medical group. Changes must be made prior to 12/15/09 to be effective 1/1/10.

Health Net is automatically transferring members who currently have a UCSF PCP with Brown & Toland (B&T) to the same UCSF PCP with Hill Physicians effective 1/1/10. Members with a non-UCSF PCP will remain with B&T unless they call Health Net (1-800-539-4072) to switch to Hill Physicians. If you are a current member with a UCSF PCP and would prefer to stay with B&T, you will need to contact Health Net Customer service.

Anthem Blue Cross will not be automatically transferring members who have a UCSF PCP to Hill Physicians. Members must call Anthem Blue Cross (1-888-209-7975) to request a change to Hill Physicians. If your current provider has a closed practice, you will need to indicate you are already a patient of that provider.

UCSF Medical Group has also negotiated a referral agreement with Brown & Toland. More information about this referral agreement, as well detailed information on who may be affected by these changes, your options, and transition of care information, may be found on this website.

Back to Top

Temporary Change to Policy and Contract Provisions Allowing Vacation Leave to be Advanced During Closure/Curtailment

University policy allows for employees with insufficient vacation balances to be advanced up to three days of vacation credits prior to actual accrual during a curtailment period. In advance of the campus and departmental closures and during the Furlough/Salary Reduction plan period, the Office of the President has approved an exception to Policy 43, Leave of Absence (J. Curtailment Leave), that will now allow employees with insufficient vacation balances to be advanced up to six days of vacation prior to actual accrual. 

This exception to policy is applicable to non-represented employees covered by the Personnel Policies for Staff Members. In addition, the University has received agreement from the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to apply this exception to employees in the Research Support Professional (RX), Technical (TX), Health Care Professional (HX), Service (SX), Patient Care Technical (EX), Professional Librarian (LX), and Non-Academic Senate Instructional (IX) units.

Questions may be directed to your assigned Labor and Employee Relations Analyst.

Back to Top

December 2009 & January 2010 Learning & Development Offerings


This is an excellent time to reflect on 2009 and begin to think about your developmental goals for 2010. What new skills and knowledge would you like to acquire to enhance your performance and accelerate your career?

Listed below is a listing of available learning opportunities at UCSF for December of 2009 & January 20010. Please click the following link for more details regarding these offerings: http://learningcenter.ucsf.edu.

December 2009

January 2010

Back to Top

UC Retirement Readiness Education Programs

Please pass this on to your colleagues, circulate invitations, post the actual scheduled workshops happening near your location, or otherwise re-broadcast these weekly reminders about our valuable (FREE) education programs for faculty and staff. Bring your lunch; your questions; your spouse/partner.

Usually there can be at least one (or more) workshop(s) per week scheduled at various UCSF locations around town. For more details and listings for upcoming scheduled presentations, please refer to our Workshops and Presentations Schedules menus found at our local UCSF HR/Benefits website.

Back to Top

############################################

HR Update is distributed weekly to individuals on the following listservs: Campus Administrators, Managers and Supervisors, HR Policy, Payroll Administrators and Benefits Representatives.

You can also sign up for the HR Update Mailing List

For more information, including on how to be removed from this list, please read more about UCSF Distribution Lists