State and local government employees who are facing furloughs can use time off wisely by pursuing higher education, exploring other areas of interest or simply expanding their horizons with online learning.
Furloughs in Maryland Continue
Companies, colleges and universities, and government at all levels used furloughs in 2009 as a means to trim expenses without widespread layoffs. State and local governments are now looking ahead to 2010 and predicting budget shortfalls. Maryland has already expanded its furlough program for this fiscal year, according to Laura Smitherman’s Aug. 5, 2009, Baltimore Sun article, “Maryland state workers to face furloughs.”
Smitherman reports as many as 70,000 state workers will be required to take as few as three and as many as 10 furlough days. The two-part plan sets aside specific days for government offices to close and allows employees to choose which additional days they will take. Salary determines how many furlough days each person is required to take.
