Guidance on Staffing Adjustments

Should layoffs become necessary at your institution during the current economic downturn, it is critical to become fully aware of employee rights as well the legal risks associated with staff layoffs. NACUBO has released "Staff Layoffs and Reductions in Force—Managing the Risks," a paper developed to help campus administrators and institutional managers formulate strategies for adjusting staffing levels.

The monograph, written by Martin Michaelson, an attorney at Hogan & Hartson, and Lawrence White, a higher education consultant, reviews the legal risks associated with staff layoffs and suggests practices institutions may use to effectively manage those risks. Not only does the paper discuss intelligent planning, well-designed procedures, and legally defensible operating standards, but it also considers the effects layoffs may have on remaining employees.

The paper, co-sponsored with the American Council on Education and United Educators, is not meant to provide legal advice; institutions should consult legal counsel experienced with the issues addressed.

For more information, contact Tadu Yimam, NACUBO policy analyst, tadu.yimam@nacubo.org