COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners brought forward during their work session on Thursday a request from County Administrator Frank Walsh to end furlough days for county employees.
Formal action by the Commissioners is expected to be taken during their regular meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
Unpaid furlough days that have been piggybacked before or after a holiday have been used for the past 14 years in Branch County government as a way to reduce utility costs.
But Walsh feels there is very little equity in the program. He said in his request to Commissioners that hourly workers are forced to use personal time to cover a furlough day while salaried team members are provided a day off without using any personal time.
The county still has a pair of 2025 furlough days scheduled for Monday, November 10 and Friday, December 26. The day after Christmas would be the final furlough day if Commissioners approve Walsh’s request.
Walsh says if the county continues with the furlough days, it might make sense to create a uniform approach of how they account for the time away.
Comments