Department of Human Resources

Layoff

Frequently Asked Questions for Supervisors of Bargaining Unit 3 - TEAMSTERS

1. How much notice must I give to a Teamster employee who is being laid off?

An employee being laid off must receive notification, in writing, at least two (2) weeks prior to the effective date of the layoff.

2. I'm preparing a layoff letter and it's been determined that the employee being laid off is eligible for at least two positions. Can I list both in the layoff letter?

Yes. You can list more than one position if you wish to provide options to the employee. Please keep the following in mind:

a. an employee being laid off shall have the right to any vacant position in his/her immediate geographic area in the same classification which he/she holds at the time of layoff, if he/she meets the qualifications for the vacancy; or

b. if no such vacancy exists, to the position in the department where the layoff occurred that is occupied by the employee with the least master seniority in the classification in the department from which the layoff occurred if he/she meets the qualifications for the position; or

c. to the position in his/her immediate geographic area which is occupied by the employee with the least master seniority in the classification from which the layoff occurred if he/she meets the qualifications for the position; or

d. if there are employees in his/her immediate geographic area with less master seniority in a formerly held classification, to the position in that class which is vacant, if he/she meets the qualifications; or if a vacancy does not exist, to the position in that class which is occupied by the employee with the least master seniority if he/she meets the qualifications. (For this purpose only, and employee being laid off retains master seniority in each previously held bargaining unit class.); or

e. to any vacancy in his/her immediate geographic area if he/she meets the qualifications for the vacancy; or

f. for purpose of Article XVI only, job classification series seniority shall be defined as total continuous hours accumulated in all classifications within an identified job classification series within a department. An Employee who cannot exercise any of the other layoff options contained in Article 26.2 may bump (on classification seniority basis) into the least senior position in a lower classification in that series and department as an option to being laid off, if the employee has:

1) at least five (5) years of job classification series seniority, and
2) more job classification series seniority than the employee being bumped, and
3) meets the qualifications for the position.

3. Where can I find immediate information about the Layoff Severance Program?

You may contact one of these individuals in UMD Department of Human Resources for information or if you need copies of the layoff severance package:

Judith Karon, 726-6326, jkaron@d.umn.edu

Mary L. Cameron, 726-7912, mcameron@d.umn.edu, or

Joan Erickson, 726-6520, jericks1@d.umn.edu

You may also contact Employee Benefits at 1-800-756-2363 or (612) 624-9090, option 2, to reach an Employee Benefits counselor.