Purpose

To provide agency instructions and explain OSC processing

Effective Date

Payment will be processed in separate checks dated April 20, 2000 for Institution agencies and April 26, 2000 for Administration agencies. There will be no direct deposit for this payment.

Specifics

An agreement between the State and the Public Employees Federation representing employees in the PS&T Services (05) bargaining unit provides for a Longevity Lump Sum payment of $1,250 or $2,500 to certain employees.

The agreement states that employees who were eligible for a LLS payment in April 1999 shall remain eligible for subsequent LLS payments in each succeeding April, at the same rate received in April 1999, until a successor agreement is negotiated. Payments will be made to such employees in April 2000, assuming they still meet the eligibility requirements.

The agreement further states that any employee not yet eligible for a LLS payment, who becomes eligible for the first time after April 1, 1999, shall not receive the payment until a successor agreement is negotiated.

Eligible PS&T Employees

Employees in graded positions (Grades 001-037) and NS (Grade 600) positions which are equated to grade, are eligible for the payment if:

1. the employees are on the payroll on March 31, 2000, (active or on leave with partial pay or on Workers' Compensation leave) in a position in the PS&T bargaining unit, and as of March 31, 1999 have 5 or more years or 10 or more years of continuous service at a salary equal to or above the job rate, or maximum of the grade of their position on March 31.
   • and
2. the employees did not receive an "Unsatisfactory" rating during the rating period ending between January 1 and December 31, 1999. Employees who were not rated during the period will receive the payment.

Employees who retire under the provisions of the 1999 Retirement Incentive Program, but who were separated from service within 30 days prior to April 1, 2000, and who would have otherwise qualified for the payment, are eligible to receive it.

Continuous service, as used in determining eligibility for the lump sum payment, is paid service (including part-time annual-salaried service and sick leave at half pay) or time on Workers' Compensation leave or Military leave without pay.

The following employees will become eligible for the LLS payment upon processing of Performance Advances in Period #1L, 2000.

Employees who are occupying positions that have been reallocated in recent years, whose salary was equal to or above the job rate of the lower grade and whose salary, upon application of April 1, 2000 performance advance, reaches the job rate of the reallocated grade, are entitled to the job rate credit of the lower grade. (These employees are increment code '01' and OSC will automatically enter '2000' as the maximum year on the payroll. When processing the LLS payment, enter the correct maximum year.)

The following employees will become eligible for the LLS payment during 2000-2001.

1. Employees who otherwise qualify but are on an approved leave of absence without pay or on a preferred list on March 31, 2000 and who return from such leave between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001 are eligible for the payment. There is no minimum service requirement following the employee's return to active payroll status.
2. Demotion after March 31, 2000 - Employees who are not eligible for the payment become eligible if they return to a lower grade position between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001 in which they would otherwise have been eligible, if they had been in the lower grade position on March 31, 2000 and remain in the lower grade position for at least 6 payroll periods
   • AND
   1. the promotion was temporary and the employee has been reinstated to his or her previous position or appointed to another lower grade qualifying position
      • OR
   2. the promotion was permanent, but the demotion occurred
      1. as a result of failure of a probationary period
      2. as a result of failure of a probationary period
      3. as a result of failure of a probationary period

Employees demoted as a result of disciplinary action or who take a voluntary demotion from a permanent position after the completion of the probationary period are not eligible for the payment.

Amount of Longevity Lump Sum Payment

The LLS payment is a one-time, lump sum payment which is included as salary for retirement purposes. It is also included in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to "OVERTIME COMPENSATION", Part III, Page 1 of your Salary Manual). The amount of the longevity payment for 2000 is to be included in the calculation of overtime compensation that is earned from April 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001 for all agencies.

The amount of the longevity payment is $1,250 for 5 years at the job rate or $2,500 for 10 years at job rate or a pro-rated amount, as appropriate, as described below.

1. Employees who are full-time on March 31, 2000 and full-time employees who are on leave with partial pay or on Voluntary Reduction in Work Schedule (VRWS) receive the full payment.
2. Employees who are part-time on March 31, 2000 receive a pro-rated payment based upon their part-time percentage on March 31.
3. Part-time employees who, on March 31, 2000, are on leave with partial pay receive a pro-rated payment based upon their regular part-time percentage prior to the leave. 

Preparation for Payment

Agencies will receive a preliminary listing of employees who are eligible for the LLS payment. Review the listing carefully, especially for employees who are ineligible due to an "Unsatisfactory" rating between January 1 and December 31, 1999.

Corrections to the preliminary listing should be submitted on the Correction Sheet form which is attached to this Bulletin. (Duplicate this form if you need additional copies.) The form should be used to add employees who do not appear on the listing, to delete employees who should not appear on the listing or to change incorrect information pertaining to an employee on the listing.

The form should also be used to add eligible employees in NS positions which are equated to grades. If the equated grade is not listed on the Budget Certificate, you must submit available documentation along with the Correction Sheet.

Employees who separated under the 1999 Retirement Incentive Program will appear on the eligible lists. These employees will not receive an automatic payment. You must add them to the Correction Sheet or enter a transaction in a subsequent payroll period to pay these employees. Previously reallocated employees who attain eligibility upon payment of the performance advancement to the job rate in Period 1L of this year will not appear on the preliminary listing. If those employees do not receive an automatic payment, you must submit a transaction in a subsequent payroll to pay those employees.

Corrections should be submitted as soon as possible and must be received no later than Monday, April 3, 2000. Submit corrections to the following address, preferably via fax or e-mail:

Office of the State Comptroller
Bureau of State Payroll Services
Attn: B. Finnegan
Salary Determination Unit - 8th floor
A.E. Smith State Office Building
Albany, NY 12236
Fax: (518) 486-3099 Attn: B. Finnegan
E-mail: [email protected] 

Deductions & Withholding Taxes

Deductions will be taken for Federal, State, New York City and Yonkers City taxes, Social Security/Medicare, retirement normal contributions, garnishees and Federal levies. There will be no special tax calculations. For employees receiving the payment who have an additional tax amount in their record, the additional tax will also be included in the tax calculation for this payment.

Payroll Register and Employee's Paycheck

The earnings code LLS and the amount will print on the regular payroll register and also on the separate pay stub.

Payments to Employees Not Paid Automatically

To pay an employee after the automatic payment has been paid, use the Additional Pay Panel:

If an Institution agency enters a transaction in period 2L for an employee who returned to the payroll on April 20, 2000, the effective date should be 04202000. For an Administration agency entering a transaction in Period 2L for an employee who returned to the payroll on April 13, 2000, the date should be 04132000.

This payment will be made in a separate check regardless of when it is paid. There will be no direct deposit for this payment. The separate check will be issued along with the employee's regular check or direct deposit for the check date submitted.

Questions

Questions on this bulletin may be directed to the Salary Determination mailbox.

• Correction Sheet