Layoff is defined as the cessation of regular employment due to a permanent or temporary reduction in force. Employees laid off due to a reduction in force retain seniority accumulated to the date of layoff, for a period not to exceed one year. All things being equal, job security shall be commensurate with an employee's seniority (for definition see HR 501 Seniority of the manual). If the abilities, skills, training, and other relevant qualifications to fill existing positions are considered equivalent among affected employees, the employee with the longest seniority will be retained and the employee with the shortest seniority will be the first to be laid off.
The University reserves the right in any given instance, to determine if an employee possesses the relevant qualifications such as ability, training, and skill to fill the position. Executive and managerial employees are excluded from these layoff provisions.
Regular employees who have satisfactorily completed their probationary periods are eligible for the layoff provisions. Executive and managerial employees (EEO Group 101-1 and 101-2) are excluded from these layoff provisions.
The University shall, in its sole discretion, after a reduction in force, determine the occasion and the advisability of recall of part or all of the laid off employees. The University shall consider seniority, ability, and qualifications, as well as the nature of the jobs for which the employees will be recalled.
Employees retain preferential hiring rights in the department in which they have been laid off. "Hiring preference" within a department shall mean that if laid off departmental employees meet the stated qualifications the department may only consider the laid off employee(s) and other employees in the same department. "Department" is defined as an organizational entity that has fiscal, programmatic and administrative responsibilities for employees. Upon expiration of a layoff leave, if the employee has not located a position, the employee will be terminated. For Service & Maintenance personnel, please see "Understanding of Policies" Article VIII, H.1. Job Openings - Promotions & Transfers.
A regular employee who is laid off with a minimum of five (5) years of continuous service shall be placed on a layoff leave of absence for one year from the effective date of layoff. During the one-year leave period the employee would be eligible to continue participation in the following benefit programs: medical, dental, life, accidental death, and long-term disability.
A regular employee with less than five (5) years of continuous service who is laid off shall be placed on a layoff leave of absence for three (3) months from the effective date of layoff.; a regular employee who has a stated ending date on his/her appointment is eligible, but the period of leave may not exceed the stated date on the appointment. During the three (3)-month leave of absence, the employee would be eligible to continue participation in the following benefit programs: medical, dental, life, accidental death, and long-term disability.
Any department considering a permanent or temporary reduction in force should contact Human Resource Services to discuss the layoff policy and proper layoff procedures prior to notifying the employee(s). Employees shall be given at least two (2) weeks written notice of layoff. Contact Human Resource Services for information related to the impact of a layoff leave of absence on vacation, sick leave, personal days, and seniority. Refer employees, as appropriate, to the Missouri Division of Employment Security (573-751-3215) for information related to eligibility for unemployment in the event of layoff.
HR 402 Vacations, HR 403 Personal Days, HR 404 Sick Leave and HR 501 Seniority .
Date Created: 9/26/97
Last Updated: 6/1/06
