Pac-12 Bringing Back Some Staffers Furloughed In August

The Pac-12 is "bringing back 54 of the 79 employees who were notified of furloughs in August," according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose MERCURY NEWS. The process is "unfolding in stages across both the conference and networks divisions." Some employees are "returning in time for the start of the seven-week football season on Nov. 7, but many are being brought back to focus on basketball, which begins the week of Thanksgiving." The Pac-12 Networks is "expected to broadcast a full load of men’s and women’s games this season -- more than 100 for each sport." In contrast, the Pac-12 Networks "won’t show any football games until at least Dec. 19." The furloughs were scheduled for "about three months -- into December -- because the conference did not expect to return to competition until January." Of the total furloughed, 68% are "returning during this phase" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 10/18).