Employees at state prisons and hospitals will be furloughed along with all other state workers under a cost-saving plan being drafted by Governor Jim Doyle’s office. The inclusion of those employees is a step back from what Doyle originally announced, and will likely drive up overtime costs for state government.
The furloughs will force state employees to take eight days of unpaid leave in each of the next two years. The Governor had said he wanted to exempt workers who have to staff state institutions like hospitals or prisons around the clock. But now, Office of State Employee Relations Director Jennifer Donnely says these furloughs will apply to everyone.