Houston Museum of Natural Science furloughs 70% of staff

Facing declining revenue and extended closures amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Houston Museum of Natural Science has furloughed 337 staff members and reduced pay for all remaining staff effective April 9.

"Given the significant financial impact on our organization, we are continually evaluating expenses, redefining objectives and streamlining processes to ensure that the museum is able to resume operations once this crisis has passed," the museum news release stated.

Furloughed employees will remain eligible for health insurance and other benefits through at least May 31, and the museum is encouraging workers to take advantage of unemployment benefits and deferrals of monthly expenses.

The remaining 144 employees at HMNS are taking a 15% pay cut.

The nearby Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has not furloughed any workers, but it did lay off 26 contract employees who were affiliated with exhibits that had to close. Those workers were offered one month of severance pay and were allowed to retain health benefits for two months, according to a March 27 news release. MFAH projected it would have to absorb a $4 million deficit if it were forced to remain closed until the end of June.