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Rumor... or Fact? April 11, 2008 edition

Editor's note: Following the transition to Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, and in the wake of Workforce Restructuring initiatives, rumors and misinformation have been circulating. This space addresses those rumors.

Rumor: The Lab’s layoff policy is being rewritten for 200 series employees so they can be released according to seniority in the event of an involuntary separation.

Fact: The lab’s layoff policy is being rewritten along with many other HR policies. However, in the event of involuntary workforce reduction under this year’s 3161, current policies will remain in effect; 200 series employees would be released according to skills, knowledge and abilities. All other job classifications are based on seniority.

Under the Lab’s new random drug testing policy, testing will be conducted using blood samples.

Fact: The Lab’s new random drug testing policy, which is scheduled to go into effect June 1 for all Q- and L-cleared personnel, will not be conducted via blood testing. The tests will be conducted using urine samples.

Rumor: In the 3161 plan that is available online, there is a reference to an April 19 date indicating that the workforce restructuring plan would be fully completed by this date. Because that date is almost here, the notice period that an employee would get before being laid off will be shortened drastically.

Fact: The 3161 plan laid out a ‘notional’ schedule of what the next few months could look like following a decision to implement an involuntary separation plan (ISP). But the WARN act requirement/notice of 60 days is a firm timeframe. Regardless of if and when an ISP decision is made, affected employees will have 60 days notice from that day forward.

April 11, 2008