By Jody Record, Media Relations

Mid-term salaries for some non-union employees will get a boost come the end of December now that last year’s financial statements have been reviewed.

The FY07 Salary Increase Guidelines indicated an additional 1 percent merit-based increase would possibly be given to employees depending on the outcome of the fiscal year-end audit.

Not only has that1 percent been bumped up to 1.5 percent but the one-time lump sum benefits mitigation for employees earning less than $40,000 has been increased from $400 to $650, of which $250 is a total compensation adjustment provided by UNH Administration.

“This 1.5% merit and equity increase makes progress in improving the market position of UNH staff where we have lagged somewhat in recent years and the lump sum payments help offset the high cost of medical care benefits, particularly for those for whom it hits hard financially,” says Dick Cannon, vice president of finance and administration.

The mid-year merit/equity raises are available to all continuing non-unionized faculty and staff employed in a status position on or before June 30, 2006 with the following exceptions:

• Those whose resignation or retirement notices have an effective date on or before 12/30/06
• Those who have received a terminal notice
• Those over the maximum for their assigned salary range
• Those with documented unsatisfactory performance
• Those on leave of absence as cited in System policy (USV.F.9.10) http://usnholpm.unh.edu/USY/V.Pers/F.9.htm
• Those whose salary increases are negotiated through a collective bargaining agreement
• Those who have a negotiated FY07 annual salary/hourly rate
• Principal Administrators whose increases are determined by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees

Employees who started on or after July 1, 2006 aren’t eligible for the increase until they have completed their introductory period. To be eligible for an introductory increase, an employee’s starting salary must be at or below the first quartile of the salary range.

New Hampshire Public Television and the Department of Athletics are excluded from the mid-year salary increase process as well.

The merit/equity raises become effective Dec. 30, 2006 and, for non-union faculty and exempt staff, will be reflected in Jan. 12, 2007 paychecks. For operating staff members, the date is Jan.19. Those workers who receive one-time mitigation payments will see them reflected on the same schedule.

In addition to the $400 lump-sum benefits payment, non-union staff and faculty hired on or before June 30, 2006, may “cash-in” up to 5 days of accrued vacation or earned time (37.5 or 40 hours).

A statement from Human Resources outlining the payments references a Department of Labor letter that states “when an employer allows a cash-out of accrued leave time, the value of the cash-out must be included in the calculation for overtime payment in the pay period in which the cash-out payment is made.”

Cash-out leave time will be included in Feb. 16, 2007, paychecks for operating staff and Feb. 23 for all other eligible employees. Human Resources will be sending a mailing to eligible staff regarding the cash-out option.

Internal equity increases address situations where two or more people with the same job classification within a department or unit, with similar education, experience and performance records have noticeable salary differences. Internal equity increases are continuing and are added to the employee’s base salary.

The mid-year salary increase guidelines may be reviewed on the Human Resources homepage at http://www.unh.edu/hr