Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform agencies of the processing of the 2023 Judicial Ratification Bonus for all Bargaining Units with Ratified Contracts.
Affected Employees
Employees in the following bargaining units who meet the eligibility criteria are affected:
| Bargaining Unit | BU – Union Name | Ratification/Payment Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Civil Service Employees Association | 12/22/2022 |
| 86 | Management/Confidential | 01/27/2023 |
| 88 | Unrepresented and Benefits Ineligible Employees | 01/27/2023 |
| CT | New York City Judicial Staff | 01/27/2023 |
| SA | Citywide Association of Law Assistants | 12/15/2022 |
| SD | Communications Workers of America | 02/15/2023 |
| DR | Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County | 12/09/2022 |
| F8 | Suffolk County Court Employees Association | 11/10/2022 |
| SR | New York State Court Officers Association | 12/09/2022 |
| SY | New York State Supreme Court Officers Association | 12/01/2022 |
| S9 | New York State Clerks Association | 12/22/2022 |
| G9 | Ninth Judicial District Court Employees Association | 11/22/2022 |
| SG | Association of Supreme Court Reporters with the City of New York | 12/22/2022 |
| SK | District Council 37 | 01/06/2023 |
| SN | Court Attorneys Association of the City of New York | 12/01/2022 |
Background
Chapter 01 of the Laws of 2023, which implemented the various agreements between the Unified Court System of the State of New York and the affected bargaining units (Bargaining Units 87, 88, 86, CT, DR, F8, G9, SA, SD, SG, SK, SN, SR, SY, S9) provides for a $3,000 ratification bonus to be paid effective the date of each union’s ratification.
Effective Dates
The 2023 Judicial Ratification Bonus will be processed with the following effective date and check date:
| Pay Cycle/Pay Period Type | Payment Effective Date | Check Date |
|---|---|---|
| Administration 23 Lag | See Chart Above | 03/01/2023 |
Eligibility Criteria
Employees who meet the following criteria on the ratification date of their respective union are eligible to receive the 2023 Judicial Ratification Bonus.
- Bargaining Unit = 87, 88, 86, CT, SA, SD, F8, SR, SY, S9, DR, G9, SG, SK, and SN
- Payroll Status = Active, Leave With Pay or Leave of Absence (except if the Action/Reason Code is LOA/RPD)
Agency Actions
UCS must submit an Excel spreadsheet file no later than 02/08/2023 to OSC containing the following information for all eligible employees:
- Employee ID
- Employee Record
- Bargaining Unit
- Work Percentage as of Payment Date
- Earnings Code – JRB
- Effective Date – See Chart Above
- OT Effective Date – 02/02/2023
- Payment Amount - $3,000.00 or prorated amount. *
- End Date – 01/31/2024
*Active employees (including employees on a Leave With Pay or Paid Military Stipend Leave) receive the amount based on the employee’s percentage in effect on the payment date.
OSC Actions
OSC will upload the final Judicial Ratification Bonus spreadsheet into PayServ on the Additional Pay page on 02/17/2023.
Overtime Calculation Information
The Judicial Ratification Bonus is included in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to the Online Payroll Manual accessed from the PayServ Bulletin Board – Payroll Manual > Earnings Manual > Payments\Withholdings > Overtime Compensation). The 2023 Judicial Ratification Bonus for eligible employees will be included in the calculation of overtime earned from the OT Eff Date through the End Date on the employee’s Additional Pay page for Earnings Code JRB.
If an employee is appointed to an ineligible position effective after receiving the 2023 Judicial Ratification Bonus, the payment cannot be included in the compensation calculation of any overtime earned 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 JRB and enter the following information.
| Effective Date: | Last date in eligible position (date prior to appointment) |
|---|---|
| OT Eff Date: | Same as original OT Eff Date |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | Same as original amount |
| End Date: | Same as Effective Date |
| Goal Balance: | Same as Annual Addl Earnings (to prevent making another payment) |
Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice
The Earnings Code JRB and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The Earnings Description Judicial Ratification Bonus and the amount paid will appear on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.
Retirement Information
The Judicial Ratification Bonus shall not be part of basic annual salary but shall be pensionable.
Tax Information
The 2023 Judicial Ratification Bonus is supplemental taxable income, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross 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 1.95975% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents.
Questions
Questions regarding eligibility and payment information may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.
Questions regarding retirement may be directed to the Payroll Deduction mailbox.
Questions regarding withholding taxes may be directed to the Tax and Compliance mailbox.