July 14, 2017

Information about the Legislature-approved FY18 pay increase

The pay plan adjustment for FY2018 passed by the Legislature on June 10, 2017, provides increases for two groups of Wichita State employees, and the eligibility criteria in order to receive the increase is specific to each group. Employees of Wichita State having been determined to be eligible for the pay increase received that increase on the pay check dated July 14, 2017. The purpose of this communication is to advise how you may submit a request to review the eligibility determination if you believe you should have been eligible. Please carefully read the eligibility criteria before submitting a review request. In addition, if you believe you should have received an increase but are unsure from the net amount of your paycheck, please check your online paycheck as the new 2017 tax withholding is also effective on this same pay date (http://www.wichita.edu/j/?5673).

A review of the pay increase determination may be requested by sending an email with the subject "FY 2018 Pay Increases" to the following email address: timekeeping@wichita.edu. The email should include the employee's full name, including middle initial, myWSUID number and a brief explanation why you believe you are eligible.

All requests will be reviewed and a response provided via email within 14 business days of receipt of the email. Any employee excluded in error from receiving a pay increase will receive the increase retroactive to the effective date of June 18, 2017.

The legislation authorizing these adjustments can be found at page 317 in the following link: http://www.wichita.edu/j/?5682. A brief description of the two specific groups that will receive increases as proposed by the Legislature is provided below:

- Current classified regular and unclassified benefits-eligible employees who have been continuously employed by any State of Kansas agency since July 1, 2012, but have not received any increases to their regular, base rate of pay since that date are proposed to receive a 5 percent increase.

For the purposes of determining eligibility, any break in service since July 1, 2012, will disqualify an employee from receiving this increase. Likewise, if the employee's regular, base rate of pay has been increased by any amount for whatever reason (i.e., promotion, reallocation, transfer, merit increase, etc.) since July 1, 2012, he or she will not be eligible to receive this increase. Bonuses, including the longevity bonus, or any temporary increase after which the employee was returned to his or previous regular, base rate of pay are NOT considered pay increases which would disqualify an employee from receiving the increase.

- Current classified regular and unclassified benefits-eligible employees who first became employed by the State of Kansas after July 1, 2012, are proposed to receive a 2.5 percent increase.

For the purposes of determining eligibility, an employee's previous employment in a temporary, non-benefits eligible classified or unclassified position (i.e., board member, classified temporary, intern, resident worker, student employee, etc.) prior to July 1, 2012, will not be considered as the employee's first employment with the State of Kansas. However, any previous employment in a regular, benefits-eligible position with any State of Kansas agency prior to July 1, 2012, will disqualify the employee from receiving this increase.