Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agencies with instructions for manual payment of the April 2021 UCS Security and Law Enforcement Differential Payment (SLED).
Affected Employees
Employees in the following bargaining units who meet the eligibility criteria are affected:
| Union Name | Bargaining Unit |
|---|---|
| Civil Service Employees Association | 87 |
| Management/Confidential | 86 |
| Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County | DR |
| Suffolk County Court Employees Association | F8 |
| New York State Court Officers Association | SR |
| New York State Supreme Court Officers Association | SY |
Background
Chapter 71 of the Laws of 2018, which implemented the various agreements between the Unified Court System of the State of New York (UCS) and the affected bargaining units (Bargaining Units DR, F8, SR, and SY), provides for an annual Security and Law Enforcement Differential payment in the amount of $750.
Chapter 164 of the Laws of 2017, as amended by Chapter 288 of the Laws of 2019, which implemented the 2017-2021 Agreement between the UCS and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA – BU 87), provides for an annual Security and Law Enforcement Differential payment in the amount of $750.
In addition, consistent with prior practice, when a CSEA Agreement is reached, the negotiated changes detailed in the Labor Relations Memorandum are extended to Management/ Confidential and Unrepresented employees (BU 86).
Effective Date
The April 2021 UCS SLED payment will be processed with the following effective date and check date:
| Pay Cycle/Pay Period Type | Payment Effective Date | Check Date |
|---|---|---|
| Administration 1 Lag | 04/01/2021 | 04/28/2021 |
Eligibility Criteria
Employees in Bargaining Units 86, 87 DR, F8, SR and SY are eligible for the April 2021 UCS SLED payment provided the employee:
- Is in a Security Series title on 04/01/2021; and
- Has served 120 workdays in the Security Series in the fiscal year for which eligibility is being determined; and
- Has been authorized to carry a firearm on duty between January 1 of the year prior to the SLED payment and March 31 of the calendar year in which the SLED payment is made.
Agency Actions
UCS must submit an Excel spreadsheet file no later than 04/01/2021 to OSC containing the following information for all eligible employees:
- Employee ID
- Employee Record
- Earnings Code – JSD
- Effective Date – 04/01/2021
- OT Effective Date – 04/01/2021
- Payment Amount - $750.00 or prorated amount
- End Date – 03/30/2022
Active employees (including employees on a Leave With Pay or Paid Military Stipend Leave) receive the amount passed on the employee’s percentage in effect on 04/01/2021.
Employees on COVID-19 Leave
Employees on a Leave With Pay due to a COVID-19 Leave (Action Reason 19F, 19P or FMC) on the payment effective date are eligible to receive the SLED payment upon return from the leave. The payment should not be included on the spreadsheet file. Agencies must submit the SLED payment on the Additional Pay page upon the employee's return from leave.
Eligibility After Final File Is Sent To OSC
If an employee is ineligible for the 2021 SLED payment at the time the spreadsheet file is submitted to OSC but becomes eligible on or before 03/31/2021, or the employee met the eligibility requirements but was on a Leave With Pay due to a COVID-19 leave at the time the spreadsheet file is submitted to OSC, the SLED payment must be manually entered by agencies on the Additional Pay page using Earnings Code JSD in Administration Pay Period 1L or in the Pay Period in which the employee returns from leave.
| Earnings Code: | JSD |
|---|---|
| Effective Date: | 04/01/2021 or date of return from leave |
| OT Effective Date: | 04/01/2021 or date of return from leave |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | $750.00 or prorated amount |
| End Date: | 03/30/2022 |
OSC Actions
OSC will upload the final file into PayServ on the Additional Pay page on 04/15/2021.
Overtime Calculation Information
The April 2021 SLED payment is included in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to the Online Payroll Manual accessed from the PayServ Bulletin Board – Payroll Manuals > Earnings Manual > Time Entry Payments > Overtime Compensation). The April 2021 SLED payment will be included in the calculation of overtime earned from the OT Effective Date through the End Date on the employee’s Additional Pay page for Earnings Code JSD.
If an employee is appointed to an ineligible position effective after receiving the April 2021 SLED payment, the payment cannot be included in the compensation calculation of any overtime earned on or after the date of the appointment. Therefore, agencies must insert a row on the Additional Pay page at the Effective Date level of Earnings Code JSD and enter the following information:
| Effective Date: | Last date in eligible position (date prior to appointment) |
|---|---|
| OT Effective Date: | Same as original OT Effective Date |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | Same as original amount (populates automatically) |
| End Date: | Same as Effective Date |
| Goal Balance: | Same as Annual Addl Earnings (to prevent making another payment) |
Retirement Information
The UCS SLED payment is not part of the basic annual salary, but it is considered pensionable earnings.
Tax Information
The UCS SLED payment is supplemental taxable income and will be included in the employee’s taxable gross subject to employment taxes 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/Advice
The Earnings Code JSD and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description UCS Sec & Law Enforcement Diff and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.
Questions
Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.
Questions regarding retirement may be directed to the Payroll Retirement mailbox.
Questions regarding withholding taxes may be directed to the Tax and Compliance mailbox.