This bulletin supersedes Payroll Bulletin No. DOT-38.
Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide the Department of Transportation instructions for processing the 2021 Call-Out Response Payment.
Affected Employees
Employees of the Department of Transportation in the Operational Services Unit – BU03 who meet the eligibility criteria are affected.
Background
Chapter 165 of the Laws of 2017, which implemented the 2016-2021 Agreements between the State of New York and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), provides for a call-out response payment to eligible employees at the end of the season.
Effective Dates
Payment may be made beginning in Pay Period 5L, paychecks dated 06/23/2021. This payment will be made in a separate check, there is no direct deposit.
Eligibility Criteria
In recognition of the necessity for employees of the Office of Transportation Systems Maintenance in the Department of Transportation engaged in winter maintenance activities to be responsive to unscheduled call-outs, those employees who were called out ten (10) or more times during the period 11/01/2020 to 04/15/2021 inclusive shall receive a call-out-response payment as follows:
| Responds To | Receives |
|---|---|
| 75% calls | $225 |
| 85% calls | $300 |
| 95% calls | $500 |
Agency Actions
To pay the 2021 Call-Out Response Payment to eligible employees, including employees who are currently inactive but were active during the season, agencies must submit the following information on the Time Entry page or the Time Entry Interface (NPAY502) using Earnings Code COB:
| Earnings Begin Date: | Active Employee – 05/27/2021 Inactive Employee – last date the employee was Active |
|---|---|
| Earnings End Date: | Same as above |
| Earn Code: | COB |
| Amount: | Applicable Amount |
General Deductions
The 2021 Call-Out Response Payment is included as salary for retirement purposes. Deductions will be taken from the call-out response payment for normal retirement contributions, garnishments, and federal levies.
Tax Information
The 2021 Call-Out Response Payment (COB) is supplemental taxable income, will be added to the employee’s taxable gross wages for tax withholding purposes, and is subject to employment and income taxes.
Federal, State, and New York City income tax withholding will be calculated using the Aggregate method. Yonkers income tax withholding will be calculated using the Flat Rate method. Yonkers Flat Rate Withholding is 1.61135% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents.
Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck
The Earnings Code COB and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description Call Out Bonus and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub.
This payment will be made in a separate check regardless of when it is paid. The separate check will be issued with the employee’s regular paycheck for that check date. There is no direct deposit for this payment.
Questions
Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.