Purpose
To provide agency instructions for processing the 2016 Discretionary Award.
Affected Employees
Employees in the State University Professional Services Negotiating Unit (PSNU) – BU08 who meet the eligibility criteria and are selected by the campus president
Background
Chapter 340 of the Laws of 2013, which implemented the 2011-2016 Agreement between the State of New York and the United University Professions, provides for a one-time lump sum bonus payment distributed at the discretion of the campus president.
Effective Date(s)
The 2016 Discretionary Award should be processed in either Administration Pay Period 16L, paychecks dated 11/30/16 or Administration Pay Period 17L, paychecks dated 12/14/16
Eligibility Criteria
Employees selected by the campus president who meet the following criteria on 06/30/16 AND on 11/16/16 (Administration PP16L Pay End Date) or 11/30/16 (Administration PP17L Pay End Date) are eligible to receive the one-time lump sum bonus payment.
- Bargaining Unit = 08
- Salary Grade = 980
- Pay Basis Code = ANN, CYF, 21P, CYP, CAL, BIW, HRY, FEE
- Payroll Status = Active or Leave With Pay
In addition, part-time employees who meet the above criteria on 04/30/16 whose employment expired prior to 07/01/16 are eligible for the payment if they are reemployed, meet the above criteria on 11/16/16 (Administration PP 16L Pay End Date) or 11/30/16 (Administration PP17L Pay End Date) and are selected by the campus president.
Agency Actions
Prior to processing, agencies must complete a roster identifying employees who will receive a 2016 Discretionary Award and must include the payment amount. The roster must be signed by the campus president and forwarded to SUNY System Administration. A copy of this roster will be provided to OSC in an Excel format.
To pay the 2016 Discretionary Award as a lump sum payment to 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 SDL (Alien earns codes are: XSD,YSD and ZSD).
| Earnings Begin Date: | 11/3/16 (Administration PP16L) 11/17/16 (Administration PP17L) |
| Earnings End Date: | Same as the Earnings Begin Date |
| Earn Code: | SDL (Alien codes: XSD,YSD, ZSD) |
| Amount: | Payment amount appearing on the approved roster |
Miscellaneous Payment Information
The Discretionary Award is pensionable but is 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.
The Discretionary Lump Sum Payment (Earnings Codes “SDL”, “XSD”, “YSD” and “ZSD”) is taxable income subject to employment and income taxes and will be taxed using the Supplemental Optional Flat Rate Method.
The monies will be included in the employee’s taxable gross and will be reported on the employee’s Form W-2.
Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice
The Earnings Code SDL (Alien codes: XSD, YSD, ZSD) and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description SUNY UUP Discretionary LSP and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.
Questions
Questions regarding eligibility for this payment should be directed to SUNY System Administration.
Questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.