DSHS, DOR, LNI say offices temporarily close one day a week to comply with furloughs
UPDATE: The state Department of Labor and Industries said this week that it will close its Tumwater office and field offices July 2, 10, 17, and 24, when many employees will be furloughed. The agency is also closed July 3 to observe the holiday.
“L&I services vital to public health and safety — Insurance Services, Occupational Safety and Health, and electrical inspections — have some staff working on furlough days,” the agency said in a statement. “This ensures there are no delays in workers’ compensation benefits, and quicker responses to urgent workplace safety and health issues.”
Many of the agency’s employees will take a monthly furlough day after July. Those dates haven’t been finalized.
INITIAL POST: Some state agencies say they’ll temporarily close their offices one day a week to comply with the furloughs directed by the governor for state agencies under his authority.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services said Thursday that its offices will be closed each Monday through July 20. Then they will be closed one day a month through November.
The Department of Revenue said Friday that it will close its offices: July 2, 10, 17, and 24.
DOR and DSHS offices will also be closed July 3, in observance of Independence Day.
“Services will not be available to the public and clients will not be able to get in touch with DSHS employees during furlough days,” DSHS said in its press release.
Some employees are exempt at facilities that operate 24/7, such as Western and Eastern State hospitals and the Special Commitment Center.
And: “Since they are largely federally funded, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Economic Service Administration’s Division of Disability Determination are also exempt from the furloughs,” the DSHS press release said.
A 3 percent raise will also be canceled for agency directors, Exempt and Washington Management Service employees, DSHS said.
The state has said revenue could decline by $8.8 billion through mid 2023, and that the governor’s plan could save $55 million in the next year.
“We know Washingtonians are hurting right now,” DSHS Secretary Cheryl Strange said in the press release. “It pains us that we won’t be there for several days this summer and fall, but these temporary closures will help save money now so that we can ensure we are there in the future for Washingtonians in need.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 9:49 AM.
