News
UB extends some deadlines
for voluntary separation incentive
UB has extended the deadline for some employees to file notices that they intend to take part in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) UB is offering eligible employees.
Employees on state lines now have until July 16 to file an irrevocable declaration of intent to separate. The original deadline was June 30. This extension, which applies only to employees on state lines, was granted “to provide employees with the opportunity to consider the full array of options,” Scott Nostaja, senior vice president and chief operations officer, explained in an e-mail to all university employees on June 16.
Moreover, all employees who are interested in participating in the incentive but did not file a declaration of interest by the June 1 deadline may still file, until June 30.
“We do not want to preclude employees from participating in the UB VSIP simply because they did not file a declaration of interest by the June 1, 2010 deadline,” Nostaja noted.
He also said that UB has consulted with SUNY system administration and it has been determined that employees participating in the UB VSIP may not take part in any early retirement incentives (ERI) being offered by New York State.
The SUNY Board of Trustees will vote on authorizing SUNY participation in both Parts A and B of the ERI at its meeting on June 29.
Employees who already have filed an irrevocable intent notice may rescind their notice no later than July 16 if they are doing so to take advantage of the state ERI.
Nostaja also announced that the final date of retirement for classified and professional state staff taking a lump sum payment under the VSIP is being extended to beginning of business on Aug. 19 in order to give those employees time to provide adequate notice to their retirement system.
In addition, the deadline for state staff to meet the eligibility criteria (age 55 with 15 years of UB service) has been extended to Aug. 18.
UB announced in April that it was offering a one-time incentive to faculty and staff to leave their positions at the university in an effort to manage ongoing state budget reductions.
The VSIP is available to full-time employees at least 55 years of age, subject to approval of their supervising dean or vice president. Faculty must have a minimum of 25 years of service to the university; staff must have at least 15 years of state, UBF or Research Foundation (RF) service at UB. RF employees who are compensated from the direct costs of an externally sponsored project are not eligible for the incentive.
Participating staff would receive a lump sum payment of 50 percent of their annual base salary as of their date of separation.
Participating faculty members would take Title F leave at full pay for one semester, beginning no later than the fall 2011 semester, then receive a lump sum payment of 50 percent of their salary immediately following their Title F leave.
Staff members working under the United University Professions contract and M/C professional employees may take Title F leave at full salary for six months instead of the 50 percent lump sum payment.
Title F is a provision of the UUP contract that allows members to take certain kinds of leave with full pay.
More information and updates about the ERI and VSIP are available on the University Human Resources website under “Announcements.” Those with questions about the program should contact Anne Bielinski (benefits, state specialist) at abielin@buffalo.edu, 645-4492; Liz Dundon (benefits, state specialist) at dundon@buffalo.edu, 645-4472; Rosemary Tripi (benefits, RF specialist) at tripi@buffalo.edu, 645-4482; or Jo Zenosky (UBF Human Resources) at zenosky@buffalo.edu, 645-8735.
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