This is one of those times I'm glad I don't work for the government.
TO: Employees of the Executive Branch of Indiana State Government
FROM: Daniel L. Hacker, Director, State Personnel Department
RE: Furlough
DATE: June 30, 2009
As Governor Daniels stated in his e-mail, if the General Assembly fails to enact a budget by midnight, most of state government will have to be shut down. Without a budget, the state does not have authorization to spend funds for wages and services. Employees, other than those engaged in emergency operations, will be on furlough. A furlough is an unpaid leave of absence.
Please monitor the news reports tonight and tomorrow morning. Also, an update will be posted on www.in.gov. If a budget has not passed, you should not report to work unless you have received specific instructions to report from your appointing authority.
During a furlough, employees are not paid. There is no option to use vacation, personal or sick leave during the furlough. Employees are not permitted to volunteer their time. The ID/access cards of all nonessential employees will be temporarily deactivated during the furlough.
If a budget has not passed by the time you leave work today, please make the following changes to your voicemail and e-mail to notify the public in the event of a shutdown:
Voicemail - "Thank you for calling (agency). You have reached (Person's office). Indiana state government offices are currently closed and will remain closed for an indefinite period of time due to the failure of The Indiana General Assembly to pass a budget by June 30. I will be out of the office until a budget is passed."
E-mail - Turn on the out of office assistant and insert this text: "Indiana state government is closed indefinitely because the Indiana General Assembly failed to pass a budget by June 30. I am out of the office and will not be responding to e-mail while this shutdown is in effect. I will return when a budget is passed."
If a budget passes and there is no shutdown, please change back to current message immediately Wednesday morning.
Once an appropriations bill passes the General Assembly, we will resume regular operations, and you will be expected to report for your next scheduled shift. It is important that you monitor the news reports and keep informed throughout this period. An update will also be posted on www.in.gov when a budget is approved.
There should be no lapse in your health, vision, dental or life insurance coverage.
It is our hope that the legislature will resolve the funding issue prior to the deadline so that state government can continue to provide services to Hoosiers without interruption.
