Faculty, TEAMS and USPS Bonus & TEAMS and USPS Merit Pay Increase

J. Bernard Machen, President

I am very pleased to make two important compensation announcements for University of Florida employees. The first is a one-time bonus of $1,000 to eligible faculty, TEAMS and USPS employees and the second is a merit pay increase for eligible TEAMS and USPS employees.

Faculty, TEAMS and USPS Bonus

This bonus, which was authorized by the Florida Legislature, will be paid on the December 10 pay date to all faculty and staff who were employed by the University before July 1, 2004 and through December 1, 2004, and met required performance standards. Part-time employees will receive a pro-rata share of the $1,000 bonus based on a full-time equivalency. OPS employees are not eligible for this bonus and neither are employees who have had reprimands or discipline issues.

We appreciate the support of the Florida Legislature, which voted to provide this non-recurring bonus during the 2004 session, and extend our thanks to our state legislators for their recognition of the State University System’s employees.

TEAMS and USPS Merit Pay Increase

Effective January 28, 2005, TEAMS and USPS employees will become eligible to receive a merit increase in base salary. The increase will be awarded from a 1.5 percent pool and will vary in amount according to performance. The increase will be included in pay beginning February 18, 2005.

Auxiliaries, contracts, grants and other trust funds will fund their respective salary pools.

The following are details regarding employees’ eligibility for the increase:

*  Employees must be in an established position on payroll on or before July 1, 2004. Time on OPS does not count toward this qualifying 6-month period.

*  Employees who have received a notice of non-reappointment, layoff, or termination of employment will be ineligible.

*  Employees who have received a written reprimand in the last 12 months will be ineligible.

*  All OPS and visiting personnel are ineligible.

*  It is recommended that a recent evaluation be used as a backup for the merit increase. This evaluation may be a letter from a supervisor.

*  Employees who are included in a bargaining unit may receive this raise subject to union approval.

The accomplishments of our University of Florida employees over the past year have been extraordinary, and these compensation awards are designed to recognize those very important contributions.