Common use of Reductions in Hours Clause in Contracts

Reductions in Hours. The district has the right to reduce hours of positions because of program changes and/or financial limitations. If the number of hours an employee is assigned to work is reduced by five or more hours per week, he or she may accept the reduction in hours, or shall be assigned to the same position that is held by the least senior employee whose assignment is closest to, but not greater than, the assignment originally held by the employee whose hours are being reduced. The employee displaced by this reassignment may accept the assignment of the person whose hours are being reduced or may request reassignment based on a reduction in hours. The reassignment should occur at a time mutually acceptable to the union and the district and does not affect the educational programming for students. Any employee so affected may, at his or her discretion, be placed on layoff in lieu of accepting an assignment to a position with fewer hours. If all employees in a position are reduced by a similar amount of time due to reductions for the following school year, the district will attempt to maintain benefit status by seniority, for as many employees as feasible.