Lake County Gazette

Some Lake County employees were asked to take voluntary furloughs to help reduce the government's financial hardships created by COVID-19 despite earlier statements that such action was not being planned. 

The request came May 21 in a Lake County Human Resources Director John Light email that applications from nonunion employees for voluntary furlough were being accepted, the Daily Herald reported on June 5.

Eight elected Lake County officials responded to the email by sending a letter to county board Chairwoman Sandy Hart, voicing their objection to, among other things, the furlough requests that singled out nonunion employees, the Daily Herald reported.

Lake County Board Chairwoman Sandy Hart | Photo Courtesy of Lake County

"We believe this is not an equitable best practice," according to the letter, the Daily Herald reported. "Not only will it deplete morale, but we will not be able to meet our statutory obligations to the public with decreased staff."

The letter was signed by several high-profile leaders including the regional schools superintendent, sheriff and a state's attorney. 

"It is important to remember that the people working the county's front lines during this pandemic are the same people we have been asked to furlough and possibly lay off," the letter said. "They have reflected dedication and loyalty to the Lake County community. We need to protect them."

In May, Lake County Board members amended the county's employee furlough policies to allow for worker furloughs. Officials at the time "insisted" that no furloughs or layoffs were planned but the policy change mean furloughs could happen, the Daily Herald reported at the time.

A spokeswoman at the time said that some employees might see their hours reduced, according to the May Daily Herald news story.

Furloughed employees would be allowed to maintain their health insurance and other benefits, and would continue to accrue retirement plan service credits, according to the May Daily Herald news story.