Governor Sam Brownback’s administration is pursing changes to some state employment policies. That includes modifying how Kansas agencies handle layoffs.
The proposals would change how Kansas agencies determine who gets laid off first and give agencies discretion to protect certain employees.
Rebecca Proctor, with the Kansas Organization of State Employees, says the changes would reduce the value of experience and years of service and make the process more subjective.
“A manager, a supervisor, would have the ability to determine who they want to stay without any real objective measure,” says Proctor.
Proctor suspects talk of budget cuts is prompting the changes.
A spokesperson for the Department of Administration, John Milburn, says in a statement that the agency has been pursuing the new policies since 2014. He says the moves would modernize the state’s HR system and maximize efficiency.
Milburn says the proposals would not affect employees of state universities.
There’s a public comment hearing on the proposed changes next month on September 27th.
