State of North Carolina Announces Federal Government Shutdown Would Cause Furloughs

In response to news of a likely federal government shutdown, the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) today announced that, if the shutdown goes into effect, the State of North Carolina will be forced to implement furloughs for approximately 200 state employees starting October 1. Furloughing state employees is a decision of last resort. Given other federal cuts and a more constrained state fiscal environment, this shutdown has left the state with no other viable path forward. Depending on the length of the shutdown, there may be additional furloughs for federally funded employees as funding sources are exhausted.<_o3a_p>

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"This situation is frustrating, and we are aware of the disruption it causes," said State Human Resources Director Staci Meyer. "We remain committed to transparency during this difficult time and we are offering resources to furloughed employees through a dedicated hub on our website." <_o3a_p>

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"The decision to implement furloughs is not one that has been taken lightly, and I deeply regret the hardship it will cause," said Governor Josh Stein. "I am upset with this federal dysfunction, and my administration is committed to doing everything in our power to advocate for a swift resolution." approved<_o3a_p>

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Furloughed employees will be on leave without pay until the federal government resolves the shutdown. The State Health Plan is paid a month in advance, ensuring that affected employees will retain their health care coverage through October.<_o3a_p>

Furloughed employees are able to explore alternative resources for financial assistance such as unemployment benefits or temporary employment, including temporary employment through Temporary Solutions. Additional resources can be found at OSHR's Furlough Resource Center.<_o3a_p>

Most state employees placed on furlough as well as their immediate family members will also continue to be eligible to use the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This benefit is a confidential service designed to help employees seek assistance and guidance for personal or work-life challenges. The EAP provides confidential referrals to appropriate resources.<_o3a_p>

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• Furlough Resource Center
• Employee Assistance Program
• Temporary Solutions