Inslee orders furloughs for most state employees as state revenue plummets

Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday directed state agencies under his authority to cancel a scheduled 3 percent pay raise for many of the state’s highest-paid general government employees and to begin furloughs for most state employees.

More than 40,000 state employees will be required to take one furlough day per week through July 25. After July, employees will be required to take one furlough day per month at least through the fall, the governor’s office said.

Inslee said employees also will be allowed to take voluntary unpaid furloughs.

The two actions — canceling the general wage increase and instituting furloughs through November — together will reduce spending by about $55 million over the next year, according to preliminary estimates.

Inslee urged other agencies not under his authority — including higher education institutions, the Legislature, courts and separately elected officials — to adopt similar measures. If they do, the governor’s office said that would save another estimated $91 million.

The governor’s office said most state employees are scheduled to receive the 3 percent wage increase, which the Legislature approved last year. Under Inslee’s directive, cabinet agencies will cancel the pay raise for agency directors, other management officials and all other exempt employees who earn more than $53,000 annually.

“COVID-19 has hit our state hard and our economy has taken a severe hit as a result. These are very difficult decisions but they are necessary to address the financial shortfall that we are facing,” Inslee said.

“Every day state employees serve the people of Washington with dedication, and these actions do not reflect on that commitment or quality of their work. In this current financial situation, everyone needs to make sacrifices and we know this will not be easy. I know that our state will come out of these difficult times stronger than ever.”

The canceled pay raise will affect nearly 5,600 general government employees, the governor’s office said. It covers mostly state agency executives as well as senior-level and mid-level managers.

Union-represented and non-represented classified employees will still get the general wage increase.

This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 9:55 AM.