The Kern County Board of Supervisors is considering furloughing employees classified under non-safety in order to save $1.67 million. Social workers and other public health professionals in the county are pushing back.
Alicia Aleman has been a domestic violence social worker with the county for over 13 years. She said the pandemic has caused huge mental health stresses for people dealing with job loss, school closures and COVID relief.
“Consistency in our field of work is critical for fostering genuine relationships with those we serve,” she said. “And so the idea of furloughing workers even one day could have very serious effects.”
In a press conference Friday, she and other social workers and public health professionals asked the county to consider the effect these furloughs will have on its most vulnerable residents.
Ryan Couch was also at the press conference. He has worked as a social services supervisor with the county for 19 years.
“Our departments were struggling before the pandemic and discussion about furloughs,” Couch said. “And now rather than using a small portion of what is a healthy amount of reserves they are proposing to furlough us.”
He said the county should use some of the $143 million in reserves shown in the Recommended Budget.
