Purpose:
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide agencies with instructions for manual payment of the April 2024 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 1 of the Laws of 2023, 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, SY, 87, and 86), provides for an annual Security and Law Enforcement Differential payment in the amount of $850.
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 Dates:
The April 2024 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 | 03/28/2024 | 04/24/2024 |
Eligibility Criteria:
Employees in Bargaining Units 86, 87 DR, F8, SR and SY are eligible for the April 2024 UCS SLED payment provided the employee:
- Is a uniformed officer in a Security Series title other than NYS Court Officer-Trainee on 04/01/2024; and
- Has served 120 workdays in the Security Series in the fiscal year for which eligibility is being determined; and
- Have received a performance rating higher than unsatisfactory.
NYS Court Officer-Trainees must have one year of continuous service on or before 10/1/2023 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to receive the initial SLED payment. Thereafter, eligibility is determined as a uniformed officer.
Agency Actions:
UCS must submit an Excel spreadsheet file no later than 04/08/2024 to OSC containing the following information for all eligible employees:
- Employee ID
- Employee Record
- Earnings Code – JSD
- Effective Date – 03/28/2024
- OT Effective Date – 03/28/2024
- Payment Amount - $850.00 or prorated amount
- End Date – 03/26/2025
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 04/01/2024.
Eligibility After Final File Is Sent To OSC
If an employee is ineligible for the 2024 SLED payment at the time the spreadsheet file is submitted to OSC but becomes eligible on or before 03/30/2024, 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: | 03/28/2024 or date of return from leave |
| OT Effective Date: | 03/28/2024 or date of return from leave |
| Annual Addl Earnings: | $850.00 or prorated amount |
| End Date: | 03/26/2025 |
OSC Actions:
OSC will upload the final file into PayServ on the Additional Pay page on 04/11/2024.
Overtime Calculation Information:
The April 2024 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 2024 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 2024 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 1.95975% 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.