MANKATO — In a cost-cutting effort, workers in Blue Earth County’s Human Services Department will be offered voluntary furloughs under a plan coming to the County Board on Tuesday.
Employees in good standing would be able to take as many as 15 unpaid days off between now and the end of the year.
Proposed reductions in planned spending on health and welfare programs are being debated at both the state and federal levels this year — and any cuts ultimately approved are likely to be felt in counties across Minnesota.
“While other departments may be facing different financial situations, the need for furloughs is most pressing within Human Services at this time,” Human Resources Director Laura Elvebak wrote in a memo to the County Board. “Participation is entirely voluntary, and the program will be managed in a way that ensures no disruption to the department’s core functions or services. This program would allow eligible Human Services employees to voluntarily take unpaid time off, while maintaining their benefits and employment status.”
Because the program aims to avoid disruption to core services, workers would be able to take no more than three days off in any given week and any furlough time would need to be approved in advance by a supervisor, according to program guidelines shared with the County Board. Workers would need to show that duties could still be accomplished and that the time off would not result in overtime pay for remaining co-workers. In addition, there are no plans currently to force employees to participate in the furloughs.
“The Department reserves the right to deny or modify requests based on staffing requirements and service delivery expectations,” the guidelines state. “Participation is entirely voluntary, and employees will not be required to take furloughs unless they request them.”
Since workers can choose not to participate at all, can take an unpaid furlough totaling as little as one hour or can request as many as 120 hours off, the amount of savings the program will generate is impossible to predict.
“While voluntary participation makes forecasting precise savings difficult, even limited participation could help offset departmental expenditures and contribute to the department’s long-term fiscal sustainability,” Elvebak’s memo stated.
The final question in a Q & A feature describing the voluntary program for Blue Earth County employees hints that mandatory furloughs have not been ruled out for later this year.
“Q: What if the County is unable to achieve the necessary outcomes and implements a mandatory furlough program? Will I be required to take additional unpaid time off?
“A: If a mandatory furlough program is implemented, employees will receive credit for time already taken unpaid. For example, if an employee signs up for 25 hours of voluntary furlough time between now and December 31, 2025, and a mandatory furlough program is implemented for 2025 requiring each employee to take 40 hours of unpaid time, the employee will only be required to take an additional 15 hours of unpaid time under the mandatory program.”