This bulletin is superseded by  Payroll Bulletin No. SU-322.2.

Purpose

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information and processing instructions regarding the implementation of a pilot program establishing temporary overtime rates for employees in certain titles represented by NYSCOPBA working at a SUNY University Hospital.

Affected Employees

Employees in certain Security Services Unit (SSU BU 21) titles who work at a SUNY University Hospital are affected.

Background

The Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the State of New York, SUNY, and NYSCOPBA allows specific SUNY providers that opt into a pilot program for employees in certain titles to establish a temporary overtime rate up to 2.5 times the employee’s regular rate of pay.

The new overtime rate shall apply to all overtime earned during the period 10/28/2021 through 05/11/2022. On 05/12/2022, the overtime rate will revert to the rate in place prior to implementation of the pilot program unless extended by mutual agreement of the parties.

The following SUNY providers have opted to participate in the pilot program and have selected an overtime rate of 2.5 times an employee’s regular rate of pay. The overtime factor used by the New York State Payroll System (PayServ) for these employees is .00120.

Effective Dates

The new overtime rate is effective 10/28/2021. Agencies should begin using the new Time Entry Overtime Earnings Codes in Administration Pay Period 18L, checks dated 12/22/2021.

Eligibility Criteria

Employees who work at one of the specified SUNY providers and have overtime earnings effective 10/28/2021 through the end of the pilot program in one of the following titles must be paid at a rate of 2.5 times their regular rate of pay using one of the new Time Entry Overtime Earnings Codes:

OSC Actions

OSC has created the following new Time Entry Earnings Codes to report overtime and overtime related payments for employees eligible to receive overtime at 2.5 times their regular rate of pay:

Agencies should continue using either Earnings Code OTO – OT Override or Earnings Code CVO – Covid-19 OT Override for overtime payments that cannot be calculated by PayServ.

Agency Actions

Beginning Administration Pay Period 18L

To report overtime earnings related to the pilot program effective beginning 10/28/2021 (Administration), agencies must submit the appropriate New 2.5x Earns Code (as listed in OSC Actions above) on the Time Entry page or the Time Entry Interface (NPAY502) using the following procedures:

Agencies must use the overtime factor of .00120 in the calculation when submitting any payments using Earnings Code OTO – OT Override or Earnings Code CVO – Covid-19 OT Override. Agencies must include an explanation in General Comments or Time Entry Comments that this overtime has been calculated at 2.5 times the employee’s regular rate of pay as part of this pilot program.

Previously Paid Overtime Using Earnings Code OTO or Earnings Code CVO

If an eligible employee was previously paid overtime for the period identified above using Earnings Code OTO and a calculation using the overtime factor of .00072, the agency must calculate the correct earnings amount using the overtime factor of .00120 and enter the difference owed using Earnings Code AOR and the original Earnings Begin Date and the original Earnings End Date.

If an eligible employee was previously paid overtime for the period identified above using Earnings Code CVO and a calculation using the overtime factor of .00072, the agency must calculate the correct earnings amount using the overtime factor of .00120 and enter the difference owed using Earnings Code ACO and the original Earnings Begin Date and the original Earnings End Date.

Previously Paid Overtime Using the Remaining Earnings Codes Listed Above

If an eligible employee was previously paid overtime for the period identified above using the original Earns Code, the agency must update these records on the Time Entry Page or Time Entry Interface as follows:

• Enter the original Earns Code, original Earnings Begin Date, original Earnings End Date, and original Hours/Units/Amount as a negative value.
• Enter the corresponding New 2.5x Earns Code, original Earnings Begin Date, original Earnings End Date, and original Hours/Units/Amount as a positive value.

Retirement Information

Payments using the earnings codes mentioned above are included as salary for retirement purposes.

Tax Information

These earnings are taxable income, will be included in the employee’s taxable gross and are subject to all employment and income taxes. Income taxes will be calculated using the employee’s current withholding elements in PayServ.

Retro Codes (RC5, RO5, R25, RH5, and RR5) are supplemental taxable income and will be included in the employee’s taxable gross subject to all 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 (2.30815% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents).

Questions

Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.

Questions regarding general deductions may be directed to the Payroll Deduction mailbox.