UM System discuss possible changes to employees’ paid time off system
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Missouri System spoke Monday afternoon about proposed changes to employees' paid time off (PTO) system.
The UM System wants to consolidate employees' paid time off. The proposed changes are expected to modernize the program and make it more competitive, according to the UM System.
MU spokesman Christian Basi said Monday that a change in the PTO program at the University of Missouri is not all bad news and could actually benefit employees who're starting a family.
"If you want to take time off and get paid for maternity leave right now you currently have to use your paid time off... there is no parental leave for that and this proposal provides that," said Basi.
If approved, the university would also add short-term disability, which would replace 60 percent of someone's income for up to 20 weeks. The UM System plans to offer caregiver leave, which would cover 100 percent replacement for up to two weeks in a 12-month period.
Employees would also be eligible for 100 percent replacement of up to four weeks of parental leave in a 12-month period.
Currently, the UM System's PTO is split into different categories. New salaried employees get a total of 46 PTO days. New hourly workers get a total of 41 days.
If the UM System consolidates the programs, employees would possibly lose 10 days of PTO which isn't sitting right with LiUNA Local 955,workers have pointed out, though, that some staff could lose 10-days of PTO, which isn't sitting right with LiUNA Local 955, which represents thousands of UM system workers.
The union held a rally protesting the changes this afternoon.
However, Basi said the feedback the school is getting from the community was nothing he didn't anticipate.
"We get different types of feedback back and forth and so its very helpful. It has been very helpful that we have been able to receive the feedback that we did get because we have made some adjustments to that plan. We're still making adjustments and that's why I'm hesitating saying this is what the proposal looks like because frankly it could very easily change between now and Wednesday," said Basi.
And the university says if the proposal is approved, the programs won't go into affect until January of 2024.
