The Washington State Legislature authorized a Voluntary Separation and Retirement Incentive (VSRI) Plan for eligible employees. Eastern Washington University has received approval from the Office of Financial management (OFM) to offer voluntary incentive programs for retirement and separation to eligible employees to partially mitigate the current budget shortfall.
The VSRI Plan provides options for eligible employees to: 1) retire, or 2) separate. Retirement and separation have different eligibility requirements and were established by OFM.
Participation is voluntary.
In order to be eligible for the separation you must meet of the following criteria:
- Employee must be in a position approved by the University President or designee as appropriate based on budgetary needs and on the ability to maintain programs and services in line with Strategic Targeting
- Employee must have permanent employment status at EWU
- Employee must have at least three years of continuous service with Eastern Washington University by the approved separation
The timeline to pick up your VSRI packet is between Monday, November 2, 2020 and Friday, November 20, 2020. You will have until January 8, 2021 to return your packet if you wish to apply. It is important to note these two deadlines.
Employees who wish to apply for the Separation Incentive must view the acknowledgement video and complete the request on this page, below.
Packets can be requested beginning Monday, November 2 through Friday, November 20, 2020 at 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time. Pursuant to federal law, you will have a minimum of 45 days to review, sign and return the agreement.
If you wish to participate, you must return a signed and notarized agreement to the Human Resources Benefits Office no later than Friday, January 8, 2021 by 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time. Once you sign the Agreement, you have seven (7) days to revoke your decision. If you choose to revoke your decision, you must provide written notice to the President’s Office with a copy to Janis Bliss, Senior Director of Employee Benefits. The effective date of separation may be as soon as the employee’s application is approved, and no later than June 30, 2021.
The University will provide written notification of whether requests have been accepted or denied no later than 5:00 PM Pacific Time on Friday, February 19, 2021.
Employees may select from one of three incentive options:
- Incentive Payment: Employee elects a lump sum amount of $20,000 subject to applicable withholdings to be paid by EWU no later than 30 days after the effective date of separation.
- Health Care Payment Incentive: Employee elects to have their payment deposited into an account at the Health Care Authority (HCA). HCA will credit the monthly premium cost for health care coverage against that account. The monthly premium will be determined by the health care plan selected, the number of individuals covered, and the current insurance rates. Any increase in premium rates will be reflected in the monthly charge. The length of coverage would be determined by the cost of the monthly premiums.
- Split Incentive Payment–Employee elects to split the incentive payment, receiving a portion of the incentive as a cash payment with the remainder deposited into an account at the HCA. The HCA would credit the cost of the employee’s health care premium against the account. The number of months of coverage would depend upon the amount deposited, and the cost of the health care premiums for the plan selected by the employee.
No. You will not be eligible for unemployment if you separate under these plans.
- Any employee receiving a separation incentive who returns to work for the State of Washington within five years as an employee or contractor must repay the incentive.
- The state guidelines govern any exceptions. Exceptions may be granted, prior to hire, with approval from the OFM
- OFM will notify EWU of any employee who returns to work for the state of Washington within five years of receiving the incentive.
- You may work for any other employer without.
Employees receiving a separation incentive will not be able to apply for retirement until they have been eligible for “normal” retirement for at least 12 months or at least five years have passed since their separation from state service. Otherwise they will be required to repay the separation incentive.
Your EWU provided health coverage will continue through the last day of the month in which employment ends. Employees who separate from employment under the VSRI plan are eligible to purchase insurance under COBRA for up to 18 months.
- Any unused vacation time will be paid to you on a separate check within 30 days of your separation date.
- Employees who separate are not paid for sick leave accruals.
- Personal holiday/leave days cannot be cashed out; however, you may schedule to use them before you leave.
The minimum eligibility for the VSRI is permanent status and at least three continuous years of service at EWU.
EWU has received approval from the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to offer voluntary incentive programs under the Voluntary Separation and Retirement Program and in accordance with the “Voluntary Separation, and Retirement Program for State Employees, 2019-21 Biennium Guidelines.”
Call the Human Resources Benefits Office at (509) 359-2488, email, use the form at the bottom of the VSRI page, or find additional details at https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/.
