The Alma Mater's outstretched arms. (Photo by kevindooley on flickr)
by Laura Weisskopf Bleill
When Jill Gengler, a mom of three, answered e-mail questions about the University of Illinois’ furlough decree, she wasn’t using any work time to do it — even though it was in the middle of a Friday morning.
Gengler, an academic professional at the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences, had already signed up to take one of her four mandated furlough days this semester. Her two younger children were at daycare while the eldest one was in class at his Champaign elementary school.
“I could have spent the day with them, but I really wanted a day to myself,” she wrote. “I’m at a coffee shop with no crayons or sippy cups in sight, I might try to get a hair cut later, maybe I’ll take a nap! I still have an itch to check my email, but I’ll hold strong.”
Many Chambana families are being affected by the University of Illinois’ budget shortfall, which stems from the State of Illinois’ failure to deliver scheduled payments. The University is requiring faculty and academic professionals (salaried employees who are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree) to take four unpaid furlough days this semester. Administrators will take even more furlough days. As an alternative, the University is allowing affected employees to take a “voluntary” two-percent pay cut instead.
Kate Clancy, an assistant professor of anthropology and mom of an almost 2-year-old daughter, is not taking the furlough days lightly. A member of the Campus Faculty Association (the unofficial faculty union), Clancy plans to spend her furlough days working for the organization because she doesn’t “believe in changing someone’s pay without their consent.”
“It might not seem like a lot, but it’s exactly that kind of money that goes toward stuff for your kid,” she said, noting that she can’t furlough her daycare provider. “So I’m going to do what I can to fight to get it back.”
For many Chambana homes, furloughs are a one-two punch for dual-income families when both partners are U of I employees. That’s the case for Gengler, whose husband also works in the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences, and for Clancy, whose husband is a faculty member in chemical engineering. It’s also the situation for Todd and Julie Sweet, who both work at the College of Business.
Todd Sweet told chambanamoms.com his family hasn’t made exact plans for their furlough days, but they will probably use two to spend together as a family and two to get things done while his children are at school.
“Honestly, I was anticipating more furlough days, so four seems very reasonable considering the circumstances. I’m happy to do this if it means avoiding layoffs,” Sweet said. “My fear, however, is that this could be the first of many such actions if our state government is unable to solve this budget crisis.”
Chambanamoms.com wants to know: how are you using your furlough days? Tell us in the comments below or email us at Editor AT chambanamoms DOT com. We may publish the responses at a later date.
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Tue, Jan 26, 2010
Blog, News, Parenting