As we've seen, many jobs have been lost during these tough economic times and now the state of Wisconsin is looking for solutions to help deal with the hard times.

The state is looking at possibly forcing employees to take days off without pay. At UW Eau Claire the move could affect the staff and students this fall.

Governor Jim Doyle made a proposal in may saying all state employees will have to take furloughs.

The proposal is now sitting in front of the state legislator's budget committee, and the university is preparing for the cuts.

Currently the proposal calls for furloughs in the next two fiscal years starting in July. In each of the two years, state employees would have to take eight days each year amounting to a three percent pay cut.

Donna Weber is the Director of Human Resources for UW-Eau Claire and says if the furloughs happen they will be across the board. She says, "All employees at the university with the exception of students employees would be obligated to take furloughs."

Chuck Major is the Director of Housing and Residential Life at UW-Eau Claire, and he says that's a big relief. Major says, "We are the biggest employer of students on campus."

While Housing and Residential Life don't receive state funding, the staff are state employees and will have to take the furloughs but Major says doesn't think it should be a major blow to their wallets. He says, “As for us I think we will be fine."

While student employees should not be affected, the details for all other employees still need to be worked out with the office of state employment relations. Weber says if they do have to take furloughs, spreading out the days off would help reduce the impact. She says, "What we would like to see happen is to take a 3% reduction on each pay check through out the year"

Weber says what ever action the state takes, the university is working on plans so the students would not be disrupted. She says it's looking at days when students would not be on campus as ideal days for the furloughs.