Gov. Gina M. Raimondo has so far resisted calls for layoffs of state employees amid the pandemic-induced economic crisis and has sought only limited use of furlough options. Raimondo has said she’s concerned about the effects of adding people to the state’s already burgeoning unemployment rolls.
But critics have said that if the state truly intends to share the pain of budget cuts needed to close a projected fiscal 2022 deficit of up to $500 million, state workers can’t be excluded.
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The Raimondo administration last year encouraged voluntary participation of some state employees in a WorkShare program created by the R.I. Department of Labor and Training that offered unemployment benefits.
The state in June estimated it could save $4.7 million if 25% of eligible employees took the offer.
Raimondo’s administration earlier this month offered a retirement incentive of up to $40,000 to eligible state employees.
