Purpose

To provide agency instructions for processing the 2015-2016 Recruitment and Retention Payments.

Affected Employees

Employees in the State University Graduate Student Negotiating Unit (GSNU) – BU28 who meet the eligibility criteria

Background

Chapter 183 of the Laws of 2014, which implemented the 2009-2016 Agreement between the State of New York and the Communications Workers of America/Graduate Student Employees Union, provides for recruitment and retention payments.

Each doctoral degree granting campus is allocated a portion of the Doctoral Program Recruitment and Retention Enhancement Fund based on the number of employees in BU28 to facilitate the recruitment and retention of new and existing doctoral students in selected programs.

Certain comprehensive colleges are allocated a portion of the Comprehensive College Graduate Program Recruitment and Retention Fund based on the number of employees in BU28 to fund graduate program recruitment and retention initiatives.

Processing Date(s)

There will be two recruitment and retention payments in academic year 2015-2016 as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Employees who meet the following criteria on or after 07/02/15 AND on the Pay End Date associated with the Pay Period the payment is processed (see above) are eligible to receive either the 2015-2016 Recruitment or Retention Payment.

• Bargaining Unit = 28
• Salary Grade = 980
• Pay Basis Code = BIW, FEE
• Payroll Status = Active or Leave With Pay

Eligible employees at a doctoral degree granting campus receive the recruitment or retention payment at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate Student Department.

Agency Actions

Prior to processing, agencies must complete a roster identifying employees who will receive a recruitment or a retention payment as part of either the Doctoral Program Fund or the Comprehensive College Graduate Program Fund and must include the earnings code and payment amount. The roster must be forwarded to SUNY System Administration. A copy of this roster will be provided to OSC in an Excel format.

To pay the 2015-2016 Recruitment and Retention Payments to eligible employees appearing on the approved roster, agencies must submit the following information on the Time Entry page or the Time Entry Interface (NPAY502) using Earnings Code GRC (or the appropriate non-resident alien earnings code – XRC, YRC, ZRC) for the recruitment payment or Earnings Code GRT (or the appropriate non-resident alien earnings code – XRT, YRT, ZRT) for the retention payment.

Miscellaneous Payment Information

The Recruitment and Retention Payments are pensionable but are not included in the calculation of overtime.

Tax Information

These monies are taxable income, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross and are subject to all employment taxes and income taxes.

Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice

The appropriate Earnings Code and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register.The appropriate Earnings Description and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.

Recruitment Payment

Retention Payment

Questions

Questions regarding eligibility for this payment should be directed to the SUNY System Administration.

Questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.