Library: News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY -- In a detailed letter to all employees of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Director Howard Hendrick outlined the likely plight for the state fiscal year budget for 2011. The letter details the plans of a furlough proposed to be started in July, 2010, that will be considered by the Commission for Human Services and based in part on the expected limited appropriations for 2011. The plan calls for employees to work 36 hours per week for 46 weeks. Rate reductions and contract reductions for providers will also be proposed.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision,” said Hendrick, “We have great employees who continue to do an outstanding job. We are serving record numbers of Oklahomans with exceptional service. Ultimately, we concluded it was better for all of us to reduce our pay by about 9 percent than to force some co-workers through the pain of a reduction in force. We have already reduced some staff through voluntary out benefit offers and have implemented one Reduction In Force where staffing could be eliminated. However, further material involuntary reductions with the present demand for services would be a last resort. Obviously, if the economy turns around, and we can suspend the furlough plan and return to a regular work week, we will do so.”
In March, more than 575,000 Oklahomans were served by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the highest number in state history. The OKDHS timeliness and accuracy rates for handling these record levels is remarkable. It is a 28 percent increase over March 2009. In 2009, one in three Oklahomans were certified for at least one month of SNAP, SoonerCare, Medicaid or both. Child support collections continue to increase at high national performance rates. The Department is also expecting to help adopt another record number of children from foster care.
“The plan is contingent upon final approval from the Commission for Human Services and will be based in part on appropriation levels," Hendrick said. "We want to give our employees plenty of time to prepare for the adjustment which will first impact their paychecks on Aug. 15, 2010."
The plan calls for agency employees to work four nine-hour days during 46 weeks and close offices on Fridays. Hendrick noted that it is better for families to get services from a fully-staffed office than experience longer waits in offices that are only partially staffed. The savings to utilities can also contribute to the need to reduce costs. Staff at 24/7 operations would be exempt from the furlough and staff with “on call” duties would have staggered work weeks to accommodate their need to be available.
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